Addition of 72 more beds announced for Tullamore hospital in coming years

Tullamore Hospital is due to see the addition of 72 inpatient beds over the coming years as part of a new acute bed expansion plan announced today (Wednesday) by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.

The new beds in Tullamore are scheduled to be delivered between 2025 and 2028.

They are among an additional 628 acute hospital inpatient beds planned for the HSE Dublin Midlands region.

The 'Acute Hospital Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan' for 2024–2031 was published on Wednesday by the Department of Health, and states that 27 additional beds were put in place at the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore during the last three years.

There are now plans for a further 72 beds in Tullamore, while additional bed capacity is also proposed for a number of other hospitals in Leinster, including the regional hospitals in Mullingar (48 new beds) and Portlaoise (also 48 new beds).

The Department of Health said the plan was introduced in response to the ongoing Health Service Capacity Review, and that it aims to bring the number of beds in the HSE Dublin Midlands region from 2.3 per 100,000 people to 2.5 per 100,000 people.

"I am delighted to be announcing this significant expansion of hospital beds across 10 hospitals in the Dublin Midlands region," stated Minister Donnelly.

"This investment recognises that our growing and ageing population are placing more demands on our healthcare services and I am determined to drive forward with expansion that ensures people have access to the right care in the right place at the right time.

"Since 2021, the Dublin Midlands region has seen an additional 149 beds come on stream.

"We are now entering a new phase of expansion, responding to changing demographics and ensuring increased capacity that will allow us to better serve the needs of people across Dublin, Kildare, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois," he said.