MERCY University Hospital has revealed a major expansion plan that will see the hospital double its bed capacity.

The ambitious plan aims to meet the current and future health needs of the people of Cork and the wider region.

The vision for the MUH campus incorporates a modern general hospital supporting a new elective facility.

Continuing in its role as Cork’s second-largest hospital, the plan sees the phased quadrupling of the hospital on its current 16-acre inner-city site providing an additional 68,000 square metres of expanded capacity including a doubling of inpatient beds to 390 and day beds to 110, and significantly increased theatre, diagnostic and clinic capacity.

The plan aims to complement and support other healthcare providers in acute, community and primary care.

It also strengthens the hospital’s relationship with its primary academic partner, University College Cork.

The Mercy chairman, Neil O’Carroll said: “I am excited to present this phased 5-15 year strategic development plan which outlines the scope and potential for service development on the Mercy Campus, including the Distillery Fields site in Cork.

“I am confident that healthcare in Cork can be transformed through the development of the MUH Campus and will contribute to giving Cork and the region, a modern, responsive and integrated healthcare system.

“At the Mercy, we continually aspire to promote Cork’s healthcare environment as one which is world-class with excellent patient outcomes, is rich in research and development, and is a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship,” he added.

“All the right ingredients are here to be harnessed. Now is the time to invest ambitiously.” 

Mercy chief Sandra Daly explained: “This plan marks the culmination of an extensive process which the hospital undertook to ready itself for the significant transition in healthcare delivery that is necessary to meet current and future health needs.

“It supports the development of a modern responsive and integrated health system in Cork which will optimise patient safety, patient experience and effectiveness of care.

“The advantages of investing in MUH are many and the development can be accommodated whilst the hospital remains fully operational. We are ready to go.”