New surgical hub in Galway will be 'a gamechanger' for the western region

The head of HSE West and Northwest region has said the new surgical hub being developed as part of the University Hospital Galway (UHG) campus project will be "a gamechanger" for the region. 

Regional Executive Officer Tony Canavan told the February meeting of the West and Northwest Health Forum that the original plan for the surgical hub was for two theatres but approval for two additional surgical theatres was granted last summer. 

"It will be gamechanger for elective procedures for the region and will make a very significant difference to our waiting list," Mr Canavan predicted.

Integrated Area Health Manager Ann Cosgrove added: “We will be commissioning the two surgical theatres from September, for which staffing has also been approved. With approval now also to fit out the other two theatres, that will take place through the remainder of this year, and we would expect in 2027 to have all four theatres and the two operations rooms in the surgical hub up and running.” 

Ms Cosgrove also provided an update on actions included in the masterplan to develop the Galway hospital campus, stating that projects are being done on an individual basis. To date, this includes the decanting of outpatient services from UHG to the Merlin Park Campus; enabling works to clear the site for the first major project (Ward Block A), which will deliver 150 new acute beds and Ward Block B, which will deliver a further 150 beds. Preliminary business cases will be submitted to the Department of Health before the end of 2026. 

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.