Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, TD, officially opens Women’s Health Hub in Tralee

HSE South West welcomed Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, TD, to Tralee today, where she officially opened the Women’s Health Hub. The Minister also paid a courtesy visit to University Hospital Kerry to meet staff, review planned capital works, and visit the Palliative Care Unit.

The Women’s Health Hub, located on John Joe Sheehy Road, welcomed its first patients in March 2026. The 9,700 square foot multidisciplinary facility brings together consultants, specialist nurses and midwives, physiotherapists, infant feeding experts, social workers, perinatal mental health professionals and bereavement support staff under one roof. The Hub provides co-ordinated services for women across their life course, ensuring access to care “in the right place and at the right time.”

This modern, integrated model of care in Kerry supports improved access, earlier intervention and more seamless pathways between community and acute settings.

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, TD, said:

“The Women’s Health Hub in Tralee, with an investment of over €8 million, reflects our commitment to strengthening women’s health services in every part of the country. This facility brings together expertise that supports Kerry women throughout their lives, and it is shaped by what women have told us that they really need from their health system.

“I was delighted to meet the dedicated teams delivering this amazing work that will further enhance care for women and families across the region.”

Julie O’Neill, HSE South West Manager for Kerry, said:

“The opening of the Women’s Health Hub in Tralee is a major step forward for women’s health services in Kerry. By integrating specialist teams in one location, we can provide more timely, person-centred and co-ordinated care for women throughout their lives. This investment strengthens our ability to support women and families across the region and ensures that services continue to evolve in line with local needs.”

Professor John Higgins, Clinical Director, Ireland South Women & Infants Health Network, commented:

“This Hub reflects a sustained commitment to advancing women’s health services in Kerry and the South West. It provides a modern, multidisciplinary environment that supports high-quality care and improved access for women at every stage of life. By bringing specialist teams together under one roof, we are enhancing clinical pathways between community and acute services and ensuring women can receive timely, co-ordinated care in a purpose-built setting.”

Sandra O’Connor, Director of Midwifery, Maternity Services, University Hospital Kerry said:

“The Women’s Health Hub is a landmark, designed to offer exemplary women-centred care, with an emphasis on empowerment, informed choice and accessible education, diagnosis and treatment. By providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary support in a single location, the Women’s Health Hub aims to enhance outcomes, reduce fragmentation and to ensure that women in Kerry receive timely, expert, and compassionate care throughout their health journey.”

Dr Waleed Khattab, Clinical Lead, Women and Infants Directorate, University Hospital Kerry commented:

“By bringing advanced clinical pathways like ambulatory gynaecology service, colposcopy and nurse-led urogynaecology into a community setting, we are drastically reducing hospital waiting times and improving patient outcomes. Coupled with our integrated women’s health physiotherapy, this hub allows us to deliver seamless, comprehensive care that supports women. Our multidisciplinary approach means patients receive faster ‘see and treat’ diagnostic in a dignified, welcoming environment right here in Kerry.”