Health Minister officially opens refurbished 14 bed medical ward at St Luke’s General Hospital Carlow Kilkenny

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, T.D. officially opened the Medical 3 ward at St Luke’s General Hospital Carlow Kilkenny on Thursday, 28 August 2025, following its extensive refurbishment.

The Medical 3 ward was a vacant decommissioned surgical ward, which has been repurposed to create 14 new additional beds to facilitate winter surge capacity. Works to upgrade its current inpatient facilities and improve compliance with infection prevention and control were also carried out as part of these refurbishment works.

Officially opening the refurbished medical ward, Minister Carroll MacNeill, said: “The newly refurbished medical ward will help make a real difference to people needing treatment and care in St. Luke’s General Hospital. The opening of this new 14 bed medical ward reflects on our commitment to deliver high-quality, patient centred care here in Kilkenny and across the country.

“It will enhance the HSE’s capacity regionally to meet the growing healthcare needs of the area and strengthen St. Luke’s role in providing the right care at the right time in the right place to those who need it.”

Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, said: “I am delighted to be here today at the official opening of the newly refurbished Medical 3 ward with Minister Carroll MacNeill. The opening of this ward will improve capacity in St Luke’s Hospital for the people of Kilkenny and the surrounding areas. It will also help all the staff in the hospital to provided services in a new and modern space.”

Niamh Lacey, Hospital Manager, St Luke’s General Hospital, Carlow Kilkenny outlined: “These refurbished beds will provide much needed capacity at St. Luke’s General Hospital and will help us to continue to care for our patients with dedication and dignity.

“I see every day the work our incredible staff in St Luke’s General Hospital do and I would like to thank them for their hard work. The opening of this new medical ward represents the continued commitment we have to their work and in providing the best healthcare possible for those living in Kilkenny and Carlow.”

Roseanne Killeen, IHA Manager, Carlow Kilkenny and Tipperary South, HSE Dublin and South East, added: “We would like to welcome the Minister for Health to St Luke’s General Hospital for this official opening. It shows the continued support and shared vision to the continued high-quality healthcare in both Kilkenny and Carlow as well as across the wider HSE Dublin and South East region.

“Together, we are building on a healthcare service that is more responsive and able to support people when they need to access healthcare in our region as well as ensuring they are cared for in a safe and modern environment, closer to their homes.”