Cork and Galway elective hospitals a step closer after HSE approves appointment of design team

St Stephen's Hospital in Glanmire is the site for Cork's new elective hospital. Picture: Dan Linehan

The HSE has approved an integrated design team and project controls team for elective hospitals in Cork and Galway.

The two teams will design both hospitals, which is expected to result in “a standardised and consistent approach”, a spokeswoman said.

The teams are being notified now, she said, and “it is envisaged the teams will be appointed in the coming weeks”.

The hospitals will take patients who are on waiting lists for treatments, including for cataracts, gallstones, and hernias.

It has previously been reported the Cork facility will be located on the former St Stephen's Hospital site in Glanmire. 

Minister of State for Public Health Colm Burke welcomed confirmation of this progress.

“That’s a step forward,” he said. 

“It’s important now that we progress the design and proceed with a planning application at the earliest possible date.” 

It could take two years from this stage before construction could begin, he cautioned.

In August, there were 1,776 adults and children waiting for elective care at CUH while there were 606 waiting at the Mercy University Hospital, the National Treatment Purchase Fund said.

It comes just days after Budget 2025 outlined additional funding for Cork University Hospital to spend on its emergency department.

On Thursday, 87 patients at CUH had to wait for a hospital bed after being admitted through the emergency department (ED), Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation figures show.

As well as the ED expansion fund, the hospital will also receive a share of the newly-funded 335 beds. Some 112 of these are going to UHL, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said on Wednesday.

The remaining 223 are to be divided between CUH and Kerry University Hospital as well as at least six other sites. 

Funding for new local injury units

In efforts to steer patients away from EDs where possible, some €6m was allocated to open six new local injury units, including in Kerry and Waterford.

Concern has been raised at the slow pace of moves to extend opening hours for existing injury units. The plan is to have all units open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

This is the case at units in Ennis, Nenagh, and Bantry, but not yet at the Mercy Injury Unit in Cork City or Cashel in Tipperary.

The budget is also targeting gaps in community services. 

Some 160 additional community beds will be provided, with 455 older beds to be replaced. This could include changing from multi-bed rooms to single rooms for better infection control.

Units in Cork, Kerry and Tipperary will see some of these changes.

Mallow General Hospital will host a unit for obesity treatment, with a consultant already appointed to lead this new service.

Mr Burke said: “The base funding is an allocation of €294,000 and that is for an additional seven whole-time equivalent staff."

The team will be based in a recently completed building on the campus, he understands.

He added similar teams would be set up in the South-East, including Waterford and parts of the Dublin region.