Cork East Fine Gael TD, David Stanton, has confirmed that the tender submissions for the proposed development of the Midleton Community Hospital are currently being evaluated by the HSE with a view to identifying the preferred bidder in the first quarter of 2021.

A site notice indicating the HSE’s intention to seek planning permission for the development of a 50 bed, two storey community nursing and residential care unit at the hospital was published last August as one of seven Community Nursing Units (CNU) to be developed by a public private partnership (PPP) initiative under the Capital Programme for Older Persons Residential Centres.

Speaking on the progress of the project, David Stanton said: “The HSE underlined its intention last year to modernise the facilities at Midleton Hospital through the development of an extension which would include a variety of rooms and amenities for residents, accommodation and office space for staff and associated visitor facilities.

“Having raised the progress of the development directly with the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, he has confirmed that the HSE continues to evaluate tender submissions, but it is expected that the tender will be finalised in the first quarter of next year. I have been informed that the design teams and technical advisors for the project have been appointed, planning permission has been received for all sites and the procurement of the PPP provider has commenced with the Prior Indicative Notice published in the Official Journal of the European Commission (OJEC). 

“This is welcome progress for a project which I have no doubt will be of enormous benefit to the town and surrounding areas once it is completed. I know that residents and staff alike are eager to progress the modernisation of facilities at the Midleton Community Hospital and while its further development is subject to the successful completion of the various approval stages, I will continue to liaise with the Minister and the Department of Health on the project”, concluded David Stanton.