An Taoiseach and Minister for Health officially open HSE South West Surgical Hub

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD, along with Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, TD, today (Monday 28 September 2026) officially opened the HSE South West Surgical Hub, located on the campus of Cork University Hospital (CUH).
The almost €90 million purpose-built facility has been developed to provide dedicated elective surgical, outpatient and minor procedure capacity in a modern clinical environment, supporting the delivery of timely care for patients while helping to reduce waiting times.
The Surgical Hub includes four operating theatres, outpatient consultation rooms, minor procedure rooms, patient assessment and recovery areas, and dedicated staff facilities.
The hub will support a range of specialties and will deliver same day procedures, allowing patients to attend for treatment, recover and return home on the same day wherever clinically appropriate.

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD said:
“I’m absolutely delighted to be opening the HSE South West Surgical Hub, which will serve patients from across Cork, Kerry and beyond. This facility will increase capacity for planned care, helping thousands more patients access treatment sooner in a modern, dedicated environment.
“The opening of this Hub marks an important milestone in the continued development of healthcare services in the South West. It demonstrates what can be achieved through sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure and will make a real difference for patients and families by improving access to high-quality elective care closer to home."

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, commented:
“This impressive new facility is part of the HSE's national Surgical Hub Programme and will provide additional capacity for thousands of day case surgeries, minor procedures and outpatient consultations. Surgical Hubs are an important component of our efforts to improve access to care; reduce waiting times and ensure patients receive treatment in a timely and efficient manner.
“The HSE South West Surgical Hub will help meet growing demand for elective services while delivering a high-quality experience for patients in a purpose-built environment.”

Anne O’Connor, HSE, CEO, said:
“The new Surgical Hub is much more than a new healthcare building. It represents a new model of care. By creating dedicated, protected capacity for planned procedures, we can reduce the impact that emergency pressures have on scheduled surgery and provide greater certainty for patients and their families. It will help us reduce waiting times, improve access to care, and ensure more people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”

Professor John R Higgins, Regional Director Strategic Planning and Performance, HSE South West said:
“The HSE South West Surgical Hub represents a significant enhancement of elective care services in the region. The Hub will play an important role in expanding access to planned care, while supporting the continued development of elective services across the South West.
“This facility is the result of a tremendous collective effort. The operating theatres and procedure rooms set a new standard for surgical infrastructure in Ireland. We cannot wait to welcome patients into the hub.”
The HSE South West Surgical Hub is one of eight surgical hubs being developed nationally as part of the Government’s Elective Ambulatory Care Programme, aligned with Sláintecare reforms to improve access, efficiency and patient outcomes across the health system.
ENDS