The Drogheda & District Chamber has launched a campaign to promote the town of Drogheda as the best location for the site of the planned new regional hospital serving the counties of Cavan, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and North Dublin. The Town’s proposition is built on the availability of four key factors vital to the successful establishment of a regional hospital namely; expertise, access, support services and social infrastructure. A dedicated campaign group calling itself the Northeast Regional Hospital - Drogheda Action Group has been formed - this group has representatives from all sectors of the community.
Making the announcement, the President of the Chamber, Mr Eugene Kierans, said: “We have a lot to offer the region and feel it is important that we set our stall out for consideration by the HSE who will be making a recommendation to the Cabinet.”
Mr Kierans added: “We also have an awful lot to lose as if the regional hospital to be located anywhere else it would almost certainly mean the near closure of our biggest employer and economic engine in this town which is of the course Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital which employs around 1500 people. We are determined to ensure that the powers that be appreciate all we have to offer and the importance of the new regional hospital being located here – we won’t let the region down.”
The Chamber also announced that it will be conducting a range of activities over the coming weeks to promote Drogheda’s credentials for the Regional Hospital and called on people to visit the Campaign web-site http://www.droghedaactiongroup.com to learn how they can support the campaign.
Through the 340 bed Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, the town has been the location of a major acute hospital serving Louth, Meath and North Dublin. There is a ready supply of healthcare professionals and related services operating in and around the town. Their availability would greatly facilitate the speedy establishment of a sustainable hospital for the region.
The Town of Drogheda is home to over 30,000 people and is 30 minutes drive for over 250,000 people and 1 hours drive for over 450,000 people. The area leading to the town is served by a rapidly developing road network including the M1 and N2 and is on the mainline rail network.
The presence of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in the town over many years has resulted in the development of a vital network of support services both medical and non-medical, essential to the smooth operation of a major hospital.
Drogheda has become a major growth town in the last 5 years and has benefited greatly from significant investment in retail and leisure facilities including Scotch Hall, The Laurence Centre, M1 Retail Park, Drogheda Retail Park, the d Hotel etc. A pleasant surrounding environment for the people who will be attending, visiting and working in the new regional hospital would be a significant benefit to any new hospital location.
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