Design team to be appointed for Cork's elective hospital within weeks

An integrated design team and project controls team for the elective hospital in Cork is proposed to be appointed in the coming weeks, the HSE has confirmed.

The HSE said yesterday that it has approved the appointment of the integrated design team and the project controls team for the elective hospital detailed design.

A spokesperson for the HSE told The Echo: “Both teams will be tasked with the design of both Cork and Galway elective hospitals. This is to ensure a standardised and consistent approach in design and delivery of the elective care facilities.

“Arrangements are now being put in place to notify the successful team(s) and formally appoint them to develop the detailed design for the elective hospitals in Cork and Galway. It is envisaged the teams will be appointed in the coming weeks.

“These facilities will provide capacity for high-volume, low-acuity surgical cases from public waiting lists.

Government policy currently is in place to develop and design phase 1 of the elective care programme for ambulatory care. Subsequent phases may seek to design capacity for inpatient scheduled care activity.”

'We must increase capacity'

Minister of state at the Department of Health and Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central, Colm Burke, welcomed the progression of the elective hospital in Cork, but acknowledged that the process of appointing the teams may take a number of weeks.

“The fact that they [the HSE] have made a decision is progress, and it’s about going and making sure we can get the design done at the earliest possible date,” he said.

Speaking about the need of an elective hospital to meet demand, Mr Burke said: “In terms of population growth, we have gone from 410,000 people to 583,000 in the last census in the city and the county. I would reckon that Cork city and county is over 600,000 people now, and therefore we must increase the capacity, especially in relation to minor procedures.

“We’ve huge challenges in the South Infirmary Victoria Hospital, which does all of the elective work, but also the Mercy and CUH, so there are huge challenges, and it’s about making sure we have an adequate capacity.”

Mr Burke said that more theatre space is required in order to reduce waiting lists quite substantially and described the site at Sarsfield Court as a central location for all of Cork county, which he said would also cater for Waterford, South Tipperary, Limerick, and Kerry.

Clarity sought on delivery 

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould called for clarity on whether the elective hospital will be delivered in 2027 and said he would like to see the hospital fast-tracked and resources put in place to secure a design team.

“We’ll be lucky to have this hospital built in 10 years,” he said. “It hasn’t even gone for planning and we don’t even know if the funding is in place for it.

“Everyone accepts the need for the hospital and that it’s the only way we’re going to clear the backlog of all the people waiting for surgeries.

“It took years to make a decision about the location; and then when they make a decision about the location, nothing happens.

“This is just shocking the way that people are being treated. I’m talking to people who are in pain and can’t move because they are waiting on vital operations on their hips, knees, and backs, and now they could be waiting another 10 years.”