Cancer care centre location secured

This morning the Mercy University Hospital Foundation revealed that it has secured a location for its new Cancer CARE Centre.

The new 3,000 square foot premises is located at 9 Dyke Parade and is a minute’s walk away from both the main hospital and the Outpatient Department.

Permission was recently granted by Cork City Council to transform the existing building into a non-clinical facility to provide a quiet and safe place for patients and families to access a range of services to support those affected by a cancer diagnosis.

Following a number of setbacks in recent years, the acquisition marks a huge step forward for the Mercy University Hospital Foundation for which the establishment of a dedicated Cancer CARE (compassion, advice, re-assurance, empowerment) Centre has been a long-term objective.

In January 2018 the Mercy University Foundation was granted planning approval by Cork City Council for a Cancer CARE Centre on Woods Street, but this was overturned following an appeal to An Bord Pleanála by a local property owner.

In its bid to establish the Cancer CARE Centre, the foundation received a huge amount of support from donors backing their plans, raising €1.2 million to date.

Commenting on the acquisition, Mícheál Sheridan, CEO of the Mercy University Hospital Foundation said: “Creating a dedicated Cancer CARE Centre has been a long term plan of the Mercy University Hospital Foundation and we are delighted to have secured a suitable building to progress to the next stage. We never lost determination as we know how important it is to be able to provide the patients of the Mercy University Hospital with a service like this.”

The design phase of the site will begin in August and subject to its outcome, the Mercy University Hospital Foundation will launch a capital fundraising campaign to complete the project.