The HSE’s new Integrated Healthcare Hub in Waterford was officially opened on Friday last (13 June) by the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll McNeill T.D.
Specially developed as a facility to accommodate outpatient appointments across three Consultant led disciplines, the project cost €17 million and is housed in the St. Otteran’s Complex building in Waterford.
The Hub will co-locate Audiology, Orthodontics, and Ophthalmology services, which were previously delivered at University Hospital Waterford and other community settings.
Two floors of the former St. Paul’s building at St. Otteran’s, John’s Hill, Waterford were extensively renovated to host medical treatment facilities for Audiology, Orthodontics, and Ophthalmology healthcare. Theatre-based, acute interventions in all three disciplines will continue to occur at University Hospital Waterford, but outpatient activity will be provided at the centralised location in the St. Otteran’s Complex.
Originally opened in 1835, St. Otteran’s Hospital ceased as a psychiatric hospital in 2007. The St. Paul’s building, built in 1895, has been preserved and its red brick Victorian design incorporated into the new development. Following planning approval in 2022 and necessary, extensive enablement works that began in 2023, the next phase in the St. Otteran’s complex project was the refurbishment of the disused wards in St. Paul’s. A new two-story entrance was added, along with 42 parking spaces, disabled parking, landscaping and accessibility improvements.
The new complex covers approximately 30,000 square feet across three floors (including the lower ground floor). The ground floor features Audiology and Ophthalmology suites. Orthodontics (including treatment rooms, an X-ray unit, a decontamination area and staff facilities) occupies the first floor.
The Integrated Healthcare Hub at the St. Otteran’s Complex is currently undergoing an equipping phase. Patient services for Audiology are underway, with the other disciplines operational there shortly.
Speaking at the official opening of the new St. Otteran’s Complex, the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll McNeill T.D. said: "The development of St. Otteran’s Complex is an impressive project, demonstrating the national Sláintecare health strategy in action integrating acute hospital and primary healthcare, to enhance community care for all. It will be a big support to University Hospital Waterford, as the transfer of outpatient services associated with Audiology, Orthodontics and Ophthalmology will free up space in UHW for acute medical activity there.”
Congratulating all those involved in bringing the project to fruition, Dr Sinéad Reynolds (Integrated Healthcare Area Manager Waterford and Wexford, HSE Dublin and South East) said: “The St. Paul’s building underwent a remarkable transformation, from disuse to a state of the art medical facility. Working with the RKD Architect firm, Nevin Construction and other contractors, it has been a meticulous renovation process and the HSE has ensured that every aspect of the building met the modern standards required for medical departments.”
“We look forward to the public and our own HSE staff availing of the impressive piece of healthcare infrastructure that is the Integrated Healthcare Hub in the new St. Otteran’s Complex.”
Last updated on: 17 / 06 / 2025
