HSE can’t say when Athlone injury unit will open its doors
The opening of a new local injury unit in Athlone has again been delayed - and the HSE said it can't say when the facility is expected to open.
The new unit is due to be located at the Clonbrusk Primary Care Centre and is designed to help ease the pressure on emergency departments at Portiuncula and Tullamore hospitals by providing urgent care to people from Athlone and elsewhere who present with non life-threatening injuries.
Last summer the Department of Health said the injury unit was on track to open "in late 2025" and that it would be "a valuable addition" to the local healthcare infrastructure.
Then, late last year, the HSE revealed the timeline had been pushed back and the opening was now "tentatively planned" for the second quarter of this year - in other words between April and June.
But when contacted by the Westmeath Independent last week, the HSE appeared to suggest that the launch of the injury unit was no longer imminent.
A spokesperson said the opening of the facility remained dependent on completing "recruitment and final service readiness requirements" and that it would provide a confirmed opening date "once available".
The statement, which we received on Thursday, said: "The HSE continues to progress plans for the opening of the new Local Injury Unit at Clonbrusk Primary Care Centre, Athlone.
"Recruitment for a range of posts required to support the service has been ongoing, and work continues to ensure that the necessary staffing, operational, and governance arrangements are in place ahead of the unit becoming operational."
The HSE went on to say that, when it opens, the injury unit would provide "a seven-day service" and would be staffed by a multidisciplinary team including "medical, nursing, radiology, and support personnel".
"While significant progress has been made, the opening of the unit remains dependent on the completion of recruitment and final service readiness requirements," it said.
"The HSE is committed to opening the facility as soon as these processes are completed and will provide a confirmed opening date once available."
The HSE added that the facility would "enhance access to urgent care services for people in Athlone and the wider Midlands region," by providing treatment for "a range of non-life-threatening injuries" closer to home.
In a written response to a Dáil question in March of this year, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the number of people attending injury units across the country rose in 2025.
"Last year, there were 222,697 attendances at injury units, representing a 5% increase compared to 2024," the Minister stated.
"Crucially, the median Patient Experience Time (PET) in an injury unit remains exceptionally low at just 1.3 hours, ensuring that patients with non-life-threatening injuries can access the care they need much more quickly than in a traditional emergency department setting."
She added that the HSE website provided advice on when, depending on the patient’s condition, a patient should visit a minor injury clinic or attend their nearest emergency department.