An artist’s impression of the new surgical hub

Ireland’s Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has officially turned the first sod on the Waterford Surgical Hub development, a new healthcare facility designed to reduce patient waiting times.

The completed development will comprise of two fully-operational theatres and two further theatres that can be fitted out at a later date if needed.

The new theatres will deliver additional capacity to support scheduled care for day cases and help to reduce waiting lists.

This will enable the separation of scheduled and unscheduled care and enable existing acute capacity to support urgent and more-complex procedures at University Hospital Waterford.

Located at the former Glanbia Site in Maypark Lane, Waterford, the net construction cost of the facility is €66.2m and it is anticipated the hub will be operational towards the end of 2026.

Speaking at the sod turning, MacNeill said: “The new surgical hub in Waterford will cut waiting times and make a real difference to people needing treatment and care in the Southeast.

“When complete, the two new theatres will support urgent and more-complex procedures at University Hospital Waterford by delivering additional capacity for day cases when up and running by the end of next year, ensuring that patients get the care they need, when they need it, closer to home.”

Martina Queally, regional executive officer for HSE Dublin and South East, added: “Reducing waiting lists and times for patients is a key priority for the HSE Dublin and the South East region.

“By moving day case procedures to this Hub, University Hospital Waterford will have greater capacity for patients who need emergency and more-complex care.

“HSE Dublin and South East is pleased to have this surgical hub under the governance of University Hospital Waterford and it will be an addition to the great work already being done by the hospital’s team in delivering regional healthcare.”

The development is being delivered by JJ Rhatigan & Co based on designs by O’Connell Mahon Architects.