Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, T.D. officially turned the sod on the Waterford Surgical Hub on Friday last (13 June), the new state of the art healthcare facility, designed to reduce patient waiting times in the South East.
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 reduce waiting lists. This will enable the separation of scheduled and unscheduled care and allow existing acute capacity to support urgent and more complex procedures at University Hospital Waterford.
Located at the former Glanbia Site, Maypark Lane Waterford, the net construction cost of the facility is €66.2 million and it’s anticipated the new Surgical Hub will be operational towards the end of 2026.
Speaking at the sod turning, Minister Jennifer Carroll 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, REO, HSE Dublin and South East, said: “Reducing waiting lists and times for patients is a key priority for the HSE Dublin and 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.”
While, Dr Sinead Reynolds, IHA Manager, Waterford/Wexford, was delighted to welcome the Minister to the site to turn the sod on this new development. “When opened fully, this Hub will be an integral part of the overall national programme to support access to elective and ambulatory care. It will help to reduce waiting lists and treatment times, and I am looking forward to this new Hub delivering positive outcomes for those needing our care in the region.”
According to Ben O’Sullivan, General Manager, University Hospital Waterford, explained: ‘The Surgical Hub will provide much needed capacity to the patients of Waterford and the South East. All the staff of University Hospital Waterford are excited about this development and look forward to treating our patients in what will be a state-of-the-art facility for the years to come. University Hospital Waterford continues to grow to meet the needs of the patients of the South East and the development of this Surgical Hub is another important addition to provide timely access to our patients.”
Last updated on: 17 / 06 / 2025
