Hospital beds for CUH and Mallow to come next year

New hospital beds in Cork University Hospital and Mallow are to be delivered next year, the HSE has said, as less than 4% of beds announced last year have been delivered in the first two years of a HSE seven-year plan.

Plans for 472 new Cork hospital beds, including 342 in CUH, 82 in the Mercy and 24 each in Mallow and Bantry General hospitals, were unveiled last year.

The HSE’s acute hospital inpatient bed capacity expansion plan for 2024–2031 outlines a strategic approach to address growing demand for hospital services, as part of the broader HSE national service plan and corporate plan, which focus on increasing hospital bed capacity, enhancing service delivery, and improving patient access, a HSE spokesperson said.

They explained that 18 inpatient beds were delivered in Cork University Hospital this year and there are a further 21 inpatient beds due to be delivered in 2026.

Another 90 inpatient beds are set to be delivered by 2029 at the hospital, “subject to approvals”, a HSE spokesperson said, adding that the balance of the beds identified for CUH will be delivered separately as per the inpatient bed capacity plan.

In Mallow General Hospital, 24 inpatient acute beds are to be delivered before March 2026, while a further nine beds will be delivered in 2026 at Mercy University Hospital, where a 72 inpatient acute bed ward block is also set to be delivered by 2031.

A further 24 inpatient beds will be delivered in Bantry General Hospital by 2028.

Cork Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O’Sullivan, to whom the data was provided on foot of a parliamentary question, told The Echo: “I am acutely aware of how vital it is that Cork receives this increased capacity, particularly in light of our growing and ageing population.

“The pressure on our healthcare services is significant, and ensuring that the appropriate infrastructure is in place is essential to meeting current and future needs.

“I hope that the timelines outlined in the response will be met, if not exceeded, to help alleviate pressure on the system and improve access to care for patients across the region.”

He added that he will continue to advocate for the urgent delivery of the elective hospital in Glanmire as he is “deeply frustrated at the delays to this project” which is “crucial to reducing waiting lists and easing pressure on the acute hospitals”.