A new Surgical Hub will open at Cork University Hospital before the end of the year, with capacity for tens of thousands of procedures every year, the HSE has said.
The HSE has confirmed the new Surgical Hub at CUH is on track to open in late September 2026. It’s a very positive update for the delayed project, which was originally slated to be completed in 2024. The major investment in healthcare in Munster should go a long way to slash the current waiting lists of thousands of people stuck waiting years for operations.
The new hub is expected to have the capacity for up to 20,000 procedures a year. The hospital will recruit 125 staff for the hub, which will operate six days a week. Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea, said it is “a hugely positive announcement for patients and healthcare services across Cork and the wider Munster region.”
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He added: “Dedicated surgical hubs are an important part of modernising our healthcare system. By separating scheduled procedures from emergency care pressures, we can improve efficiency, reduce cancellations, and ensure patients receive treatment more quickly. Our healthcare staff continue to work under enormous pressure, and investments like this are essential in supporting them to deliver high-quality care. I want to acknowledge the commitment and effort of everyone involved in bringing this project to completion.”
The new surgical hub is part of a €111m funding package for healthcare projects across Cork under the 2026 HSE Capital Plan, which also includes next steps for the new Elective Hospital in Cork. The hospital, which was originally announced back in 2022, is to be built on the site of St Stephen’s Psychiatric Hospital at Sarsfield in Glanmire. Deadlines for planning were missed in 2024 and 2025.