Rehabilitation services to expand in HSE South West region

The new Mercy Regional Rehabilitation Unit in Blarney has welcomed its first patients.

Located in the former Blarney Golf resort, the unit now offers 30 rehabilitation beds for older people. These beds will become available on a phased basis, with the first patients welcomed in recent weeks.

Later in 2026, the unit will open 20 specialist neurorehabilitation beds.

This Mercy Regional Rehabilitation Unit is run by Mercy University Hospital Cork on behalf of HSE South West.

This reconfiguration of the unit to offer 30 rehabilitation beds for older people and 20 specialist rehabilitation beds means that HSE South West is meeting patient needs in the region. Partnering with the Mercy University Hospital means that links between acute hospital care and rehabilitation services are strengthened.

The rehabilitation beds for older people provide care for patients recovering from major surgery, serious illness, falls, or fractures. The unit is for those who no longer require intensive hospital treatment but still need rehabilitation, including nursing care, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. These therapies will help them to improve their mobility and independence, support their safe transfer home and help them to re-enter daily life.

When the 20 specialist neurorehabilitation beds open later this year, they will help people recovering from serious conditions like stroke, brain injury, or other injuries that need intensive and highly specialised care.

Sonya Cotter, HSE Manager for Cork North and East said:

“This development marks an important step in strengthening rehabilitation services across the region. By transferring governance to Mercy University Hospital Cork and expanding specialist rehabilitation, we are improving how patients move from acute care into recovery and supporting better outcomes for people and families.”

Patients move to the rehabilitation unit after their hospital treatment is finished. The aim of rehabilitation is to help people recover, improve their quality of life and return home safely with greater independence. This reflects the Sláintecare approach of providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

Care at the unit is provided by a multidisciplinary team. This includes doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers and a clinical psychologist. Each patient receives a personal rehabilitation plan based on their own needs and goals.