The completion of a new 60-bed block at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has been welcomed by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.
The €21 million investment will add three in-patient wards to the hospital, each with 20 en-suite single rooms.
Funding for approximately 500 new jobs has also been granted to staff the additional beds with all current nurses and midwives graduating from the University of Limerick being offered permanent contracts.
The three wards are due to open on November 23rd, December 14th and January 4th respectively.
Two of the wards will be full isolation facilities, assisting in the management of infection control in the hospital.
This follows the addition of two earlier rapid-build block at UHL which were opened recently.
A 24-bed block will be used for the treatment of haematology and oncology patients, while another 14-bed unit for medical patients is currently being used for the isolation of Covid-19 patients.
Another 96-bed block on the same site was also lodged in August with a planning decision expected in the coming months.
In a statement, Mr Donnelly said the additional beds will improve patient experience and allow for better infection control.
"This will make a huge difference to individuals and families in the Mid West.
"The bed shortages in the Mid-West have gone on for too long and we are taking several major steps to address this issue."
