Charter Medical opens new €2m endoscopy suite in Mullingar

Charter Medical Private Hospital in Mullingar, a 77-bed facility that offers a range of diagnostic, treatment, and surgical services, has opened a new purpose-built modern endoscopy suite.

The mayor of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, Cllr Hazel Smyth, joined Charter Medical management and medical staff to formally open and dedicate the new suite yesterday, Wednesday, morning.

The expansion comprises two endoscopy theatres, a minor operations procedure room and a 10-bed recovery bay.

In 2021 CMPH introduced AI technology for the detection of colonic polyps supporting the physician in the early detection of colon cancer. The new suite has the capacity to facilitate approximately 7,500 GI procedures annually.

The service currently supports provision for private patients and NTPF activity from a number of public hospital sites to reduce the waiting lists.

The plan is to expand the offering to urology and respiratory endoscopy procedures over the next two years.

Cllr Smyth said: "As mayor of Mullingar, I welcome Charter Medical's commitment to the town. Such an investment is welcome news for the people of Westmeath and beyond. It will enable increasing numbers of local people to receive state-of-the art healthcare in the heart of midlands."

Kathriona Screeney, CEO of Charter Medical Private Hospital, said: "Today is a good day for people of the midlands. The new suite is fully staffed to meet current demand, but we are looking to expand the number of consultants, nursing and support staff to fulfil the hospital's growth ambition, and in so doing, meet the needs of our patient and GP community to deliver endoscopy services in a timely and effective manner into the future."

Charter Medical Private Hospital opened in 2021 and now has circa 100 specialist consultants. It offers an extensive range of ambulatory care services on-site, including general surgery, ENT, orthopaedics, gynaecology, urology, ophthalmology, maxillofacial, dental, dermatology, rheumatology, pain management, GI endoscopy, physiotherapy and RAC, medicine for the elderly. other diagnostic services include X-Ray, ultrasound, MRI, Dexa, PFT laboratory and outpatient cardiology.

Demonstrating its commitment to excellent community care, in partnership with the HSE, Charter Medical operate a free at the point of care rapid access clinic for the over 60s, a minor injuries unit and an intermediate care ward, all on the Charter Medical Private Hospital campus in Mullingar.

Charter Medical, which opened its first private medical facility in Smithfield, Dublin in 2006, purchased St Francis Private Hospital in late 2020 and Charter Medical Private Hospital opened to patients in 2021.

Thomas Byrne, chair of the Charter Medical Group, said: "Ultimately, our ambition is to make this facility one of the go-to endoscopy units in Ireland, not just the midlands. That will take time as we make the Irish public aware that they don't need to travel to Dublin or other cities for certain medical procedures – there is a world class unit closer to home."