Minister for Health Jennnifer Carroll MacNeill today officially opened the new state-of-the-art €8 million Endoscopy Unit at Bantry General Hospital

Minister for Health Jennnifer Carroll MacNeill today officially opened the new state-of-the-art €8 million Endoscopy Unit at Bantry General Hospital.

The purpose-built new unit, which has been welcoming patients since earlier this year, provides top quality care not just to the people of West Cork but the entire HSE South West region. It has two procedure rooms, six recovery bays, a discharge lounge and a welcoming reception area.

Minister Carroll MacNeill said:

“This new purpose-built unit will lead to an increase in endoscopy activity undertaken at Bantry General Hospital and will be integral to tackling endoscopy waiting lists across the HSE South West region. This investment, of more than €8 million, benefits not just the people of West Cork but also the wider region. Congratulations to the team at Bantry General Hospital and the HSE South West team for taking this step forward in expanding services and supporting better outcomes for our community.”

HSE South West Regional Executive Officer Dr Andy Phillips said:

“This is a significant investment made by the state. My responsibility is to now ensure that we use this modern, cutting-edge facility with its new technology to the maximum of its capacity. To do this we will need to recruit a new team and offer this service to the entire population of Cork and Kerry. Our communities are going to increase by 10-15% over the next 20 years and there is very significant growth in demand so this is a vital facility to contribute to providing access within the Slaintecare requirements.”

HSE area manager Cork South and West Priscilla Lynch said:

“This exciting development of a new endoscopy unit at Bantry General Hospital represents a vital investment in the health and wellbeing of the people in West Cork and the wider region. This modern facility has enhanced our diagnostic capabilities, will reduce waiting times, and ensure patients have access to high-quality care closer to home.”

General Manager of Bantry General Hospital Carole Croke said:

“This new, modern, patient-centred facility is a significant development for the hospital. The development is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our exceptional team. The supportive, professional environment here in Bantry has been key to bringing this project to life, and we look forward to continuing to deliver safe, high-quality care in this state-of-the-art facility.”

The new unit will allow Bantry General Hospital to double its endoscopy activity. It can carry out a range of endoscopy services including colonoscopy; gastroscopy, proctoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. It can carry out not just diagnostics, but also therapeutic services as well.

Referrals typically come electronically from community services, particularly GPs and are triaged by the clinical team based on symptoms.