The transfer of ownership of Portiuncula Hospital, Ballina sloe, to the Western Health Board has been resolved after 2 1/2 years.
The Health Board CEO, Dr Sheelah Ryan, said all outstanding contractual and budgetary issues relating to the transfer of ownership of the hospital from the Franciscan Missionary Sisters had been resolved.
She has sought the approval of the Department of Health and Children to proceed to the signing of contracts with a view to taking ownership as soon as possible and she anticipated it would be a significant item on the agenda of the board's next meeting in October.
The board has been involved in lengthy negotiations over the past two years with the Sisters, hospital management, the Department of Health and trade unions in relation to the takeover, which is estimated to be worth around £9 million.
At present, Portiuncula has 240 beds with a staff of around 450. Last year, a £140,000 overhaul of St John's surgical ward was undertaken as part of a major structural improvement plan which also included the construction of a new operating theatre suite and intensive care unit.
Services at Portiuncula are also being strengthened and the hospital now offers a dedicated oncology service as well as ENT, eye, skin and other specialist services.
The hospital takes patients from a wide area including Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Sligo, Mayo, Clare, Tipperary, Dublin, Leitrim and Cavan.
