Limerick surgical hub
Willie O'Dea sought an update on the promised surgical hub for Limerick and asked whether St. John’s Hospital would remain central. The Minister for Health said St. John’s would continue to play an active role and that several hub options, including modular and retrofit models, were being considered.
I ask the Taoiseach for an update on the surgical hub, which the Government has committed to provide in the Limerick area. This is a vital facility due to continuing capacity problems in University Hospital Limerick, UHL. I ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health, if he wishes to respond, to consider locating this hub in the grounds of St. John's Hospital in Limerick. Can I get an assurance that St. John's Hospital will continue to play a central role in the delivery of health services in the midwest region?
Comment on this
St. John's Hospital will continue to play a very active role in the delivery of care. When it comes to the surgical hubs, there are several options being looked at, one of which is on a site-by-site basis. For example, the HSE is looking at retrofitting existing commercial space, which was the approach used in Tallaght. I am very interested in the approach the NHS has used. It has modular builds and I believe it has put 140 of these in place across the UK. I can confirm that HSE staff were in England earlier this week meeting with the NHS on exactly that. Obviously the facilities have to be high quality and clinically sound. The priority is picking an approach that gets these facilities in place as quickly as possible.