14 February, 2025
Yesterday, the Minister for Health, Dr Jennifer Carroll MacNeill officially opened the first of six HSE Surgical Hubs at Mount Carmel, marking a major milestone for healthcare in the South Dublin region. Developed, designed and governed by St James’s Hospital, this innovative facility features four state-of-the-art theatres and is set to preform 10,000 day-case procedures annually, significantly improving access to elective and ambulatory care.
The new hub is not only an integral part of Ireland’s national strategy to enhance healthcare delivery, but also sets a remarkable standard for innovation. Thanks to the expertise in St James’s Hospital, the hub was designed with a focus on operational efficiency, it integrates lean principals and is fully digital, ensuring streamlined processes that lead to better patient outcomes.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Carroll MacNeill said: “I am delighted to be here today to officially open this new Surgical Hub under the governance of St James's Hospital, which will make a real difference to people’s lives. I am determined to drive down waiting times and these new hubs will have an important role to play in helping to do just that, ensuring that people get the care they need where and when they need it.
“This will help to build on the progress we have been making in the last few years in reducing waiting times for patients. We have seen significant improvements in average waiting times. Outpatient waiting times, for example, have reduced from a post-pandemic high of 13.2 months to 6.5 months now. While almost 85% of patients have been waiting less than a year, I acknowledge that too many people are still waiting too long for care”.
A standout feature of the new hub is its commitment to sustainability. As one of the first ‘green theatres’ in Ireland, the hub pioneers eco-friendly practices, such as reducing nitrous oxide usage, and transitioning to reusable textiles. This sustainable healthcare model is part of the Royal College of Surgeons’ ‘Green Theatre Compendium’, an initiative supported by SPARK funding to trial green theatre practices at multiple sites, including Mount Carmel. St James’s Hospital is proud to lead the way on this initiative, contributing valuable insights for a programme aimed at accrediting green theatres.
Mary Day, CEO, St James’s Hospital, said: “St James’s Hospital’s focus on sustainability and on digital healthcare, underpinned by lean methodologies, ensures the hub optimises efficiencies, minimises waste, and enhances patient care and operational workflows for the region.”
The HSE Surgical Hub South Dublin will officially open its doors on Monday, 17 February for minor procedures and Monday, 3 March for general anaesthetic procedures.