“The Bons” as it is known colloquially, is different in that it is a not-for-profit organisation. This means its increasing revenues are continually reinvested into its staff and facilities, in the interest of patients.
As such, patient feedback is collected on a daily basis, he notes. “Every patient that comes into us is asked if they want to take part in a patient survey, which is run independently.” New services such as cardiology, general medicine, endocrinology, neurology, and respiratory medicine will be offered at the hospital, and it will also incorporate a medical assessment unit. “This will really help with the pressure on trolleys in this region as part of our partnership approach with University Hospital Limerick,” notes Maher.
“The patient journey was key in the design of this build,” says Daly. “We are mindful of patients and their surroundings. There is a significant investment being made in the acoustics of the rooms so that they are adequately soundproofed.” The hospital will also be surrounded by landscaped gardens. These things sound simple, but can make a huge difference, she says. “It’s a place for people to get well.
Another area in which BSHS is breaking new ground is the introduction of an electronic health record for patients — a potential game changer that has been long delayed in the public health system. The phased implementation of an EHR will commence in the coming months at BSHS as part of its ambitious digital health transformation programme.