Cork hospitals to benefit from €1.3 billion in national funding

Five new surgical hubs are expected to be completed in Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, and Cork.

The new surgical hub in Cork University Hospital (CUH) is set to open between March and April, and is expected to cater for up to 28,000 patients a year.

Two elective treatment centres, one in Cork and another in Galway, are set to receive €5.73 million between them. Under the capital plan, planning permission will be sought for both centres this year.

The second phase of the tendering process for an extension of the Paediatric Department at CUH is also expected to be completed. The department said that construction is expected to start this year.

However, it was reported this week that HSE South-West does not believe construction will start until early next year, with completion not expected until 2029. Planning permission for the extension was granted in 2022.

A further €97.23 million is also to be provided for the National Children’s Hospital.

Outside of Cork city, Mallow General Hospital is set to receive €3.3 million for the provision of a 24 bed inpatient ward, and an outpatient/ day clinic ward. €1.68 million will also be provided for a new ambulance base in the town.

In Millstreet, €1.6 million will be provided for the refurbishment and extension of the Community Nursing Unit at St Joseph’s Community Hospital.

Local representatives welcomed the funding.

John Paul O’Shea TD said that the funding will “enhance acute capacity, strengthen community and older persons’ services, modernise mental health facilities and improve emergency response capability”.

Colm Burke TD said he was particularly happy to see funding for an elective hospital in the city as the population has grown substantially in the last two decades.

“This will help expand capacity and cater for increased demand for healthcare services in Cork,” he said.