20 February, 2026
South Dublin Surgical Hub staff pictured at the Mount Carmel Hospital campus marking the Hub’s first year in operation. L–R: Katarzyna Rekret, (Theatre Operative) Manual Vidal, (Staff Nurse) Delfy Shijo, (Staff Nurse) Trizer Tinago, (Staff Nurse) and Mary Michael, (CNM2 Anaesthetics/Recovery).
The South Dublin Surgical Hub, governed by St James’s Hospital and based at the Mount Carmel campus, is marking its first year of operation with outstanding results, most notably a 74% reduction in the number of patients waiting more than 12 months for day‑case procedures.
Since opening in February 2025, the Hub has completed over 4,515 day‑case procedures, significantly easing pressure on waiting lists and improving access to timely care for patients across the region.
In January 2025, 2,031 patients were waiting 12 months or more for procedures suitable for an off‑site elective setting. By January 2026, that number had fallen to just 93. Waiting times for pain management appointments have also improved dramatically, dropping from 12 months to under 12 weeks.
This progress is driven by a highly efficient model of care, including:
The Hub currently operates three theatres, five days per week, with a fourth theatre and six‑day service planned to launch later this year. These changes are expected to further increase surgical capacity.
A new South Dublin Surgical Network, in collaboration with the Reeves Centre and St Vincent’s University Hospital, has also been established. This network helps relieve pressure on acute hospitals by directing appropriate day‑case surgeries to the Hub, allowing hospital theatre teams to focus on more complex inpatient procedures.
The Hub provides a wide range of day‑case and minor procedures, covering: Orthopaedics Urology, General surgery, Dermatology, ENT, Breast surgery, Plastics, Pain management and Maxillofacial surgery.
Recent service expansions include laparoscopic surgery, elective orthopaedic trauma, breast reconstruction, and maxillofacial implant surgery.
Looking ahead to 2026, plans include adding new specialties, such as gynaecology and opening a ten‑room outpatient department operating six days a week.
Mary Day, CEO of St James’s Hospital, praised the collaborative approach underpinning the Hub’s success:
“The Hub is extremely focused on patient flow. We bring clinical leads and frontline staff together and monitor data closely to streamline patient scheduling. The result has been a significant decrease in waiting lists for day cases, and increased capacity for trauma cases, cardiothoracic and gastrointestinal surgeries at St James’s Hospital.”
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill highlighted the national importance of the initiative:
“Our investment in the surgical hub in Mount Carmel has ensured patients are treated faster, making a real difference to their lives. I look forward to seeing the success of Mount Carmel replicated across the five more surgical hubs due to open this year.”
Bernard Gloster, HSE Chief Executive, noted that the Hub is delivering on a key national priority:
“One year on, we are already seeing the difference that dedicated elective capacity can make. The Hub increases day‑case surgery capacity and frees up acute hospital services for more complex care. With five additional hubs opening this year, we are taking major steps forward in improving access and outcomes for patients nationwide.”