As the country’s hospitals continue to battle chronic overcrowding, the HSE has admitted it is years behind schedule in creating surgical hubs that would help ease the pressure.
First announced in 2022, the hubs were meant to be up and running by the end of 2024. However, it has now emerged that in Limerick, where the overcrowding is at its worst, the HSE only bought the former school that is to house the hub in the last couple of weeks. The building has yet to be demolished. In Cork, which had 87 patients on trolleys on Tuesday, the hub will not open until at least mid-2026
The delays come despite a government commitment in December 2022 that the hubs would be open within 18 months.
They are expected to help relieve congestion at those hospitals worst affected by overcrowding, including University Hospital Limerick (UHL) and Cork University Hospital (CUH).
These facilities, together with Drogheda, saw the highest numbers of patients spending longer than 24 hours in an emergency department in mid-January, new HSE data shows.
Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Limerick also had the highest average trolley count under the HSE system for the week ending January 12.
Reacting to news of the delays, Sinn Fé
in health spokesman David Cullinane said: “I don’t see any good reason why these are not progressing quicker.
“And it does worry me now when I see in the programme for government it says ‘deliver four elective hospitals’ but no detail beyond that. And the same for the hospital beds.”
He warned of funding shortages across many infrastructure projects.
“There is no urgency,” the Sinn Féin TD said. “They don’t get the funding and the bottom line is the funding isn’t there under the current capital programme for health to deliver these projects.”
He added: “The incoming minister will have to answer why an announcement was made that gave the impression all of this would be done quickly.”
In Limerick, although the former Scoil Carmel was confirmed as the site for the surgical hub in January 2024, the Irish Examiner confirmed on Tuesday that the sale was only completed in December. It is understood a price in the region of €2.5m was paid.
A HSE spokeswoman said: “construction (is) due to commence in Limerick in the coming weeks starting with demolition of the existing structure.”
Planning documents filed with the local authority in Limerick show objections had been raised, with one objector referring to a “serious road safety risk” caused by speeding vehicles when the site was used as a covid vaccination centre.
Construction of the Cork hub at CUH is “progressing“. Up to 143 patients are expected to be seen daily when the hub is operational. “The need for such a facility is clear”, the council’s report said.
The Waterford hub will be located on a former Glanbia site near University Hospital Waterford. There were no planning issues with this site, according to Mr Cullinane.
“Certainly in the case of Waterford there shouldn’t be any reason why this isn’t already open,” he said.
Across Munster, the HSE said opening for: “Limerick, Cork and Waterford is anticipated on a phased basis starting with Cork from mid-2026.”
However, the spokeswoman cautioned about potentially even longer run-in times.
“These timelines are dependent on the necessary staffing and funding being in place and no delays being incurred,” she said.
The hub at the former Mount Carmel maternity hospital in Dublin was expected to take patients last year, the Department of Health said in November.
However, the HSE’s latest estimate is this will “commence operations in Q1 2025” indicating March at the latest.
The north Dublin hub in Swords is “due to be completed in Q3 2025 “ – which means a September date. Construction at the Galway hub is set to finish in Q1 2026.
