Planning permission has been approved for a major extension at a local hospital.
Under the new plans, capacity at Cavan General Hospital's Emergency Department would be greatly increased.
In recent days, Cavan General has been in the spotlight due to high numbers of patients waiting on trolleys. At it's peak so far this week, 31 people were waiting on a bed in the local hospital, with the majority of those in the Emergency Department. A large number of those presentations are due to Norovirus. Under new plans approved today, a new five storey extension to accommodate a new emergency department on the lower ground floor will be constructed. This will also provide capacity for 58 additional beds. The 7,588 square metre extension will also include an Endoscopy Unit, Inpatient Accommodation on Floors 1, 2 and 3, and a plant area on the fourth floor. Also approved are 37 new parking spaces, including 10 accessible spaces, 4 EV charging spaces, and 7 motorbike spaces. Plans were approved with 19 conditions attached including that the developer's pay a fee of close to €100,000 and that a bus shelter be provided adjacent to Stop ID 10635 Hospital Door.