At the Regional Health Forum West Meeting held today, Cllr Emer Kelly raised pressing concerns about the closure of the Sacred Heart Church at Sacred Heart Hospital and the worsening parking situation at Roscommon University Hospital (RUH), highlighting challenges for staff and service users.
The Sacred Heart Church, part of the Sacred Heart Hospital, has been closed since September 2023 due to fire safety issues identified by the Fire Regulation Authority. The chapel, attached to the hospital’s workhouse building, was separated to ensure HIQA compliance, allowing the hospital to resume admissions.
According to A. Cosgrove, Integrated Health Area Manager for Galway Roscommon, there are currently no plans to reopen the chapel until the ongoing bed replacement project is completed. However, the HSE is open to exploring restoration possibilities in the future. A room is currently provided for private prayer and mass for residents, addressing concerns raised at a recent Roscommon County Council meeting about the absence of a proper church facility.
On the parking front, Cllr Kelly flagged the growing strain at RUH, exacerbated by increased services, staffing, and activity levels. The hospital, which offers free parking, is grappling with limited capacity, with approximately 75 public parking spaces at the nearby Hyde Park GAA Pitch often full.
The HSE is developing a Spatial Plan for the RUH campus, with additional parking prioritised as an urgent need. Health Planners, appointed to support this process, began work on 30th July 2025, with the plan expected to take 20–26 weeks to complete. The hospital is also collaborating with the Age Friendly committee to conduct a mobility audit, aiming to secure Age Friendly accreditation and improve campus accessibility.
These issues remain under scrutiny as the Roscommon community awaits actionable solutions.
