HSE admits inadequate road infrastructure delaying the construction of Glanmire surgical hospital

The HSE has admitted that road access is a key issue delaying a new elective hospital for Cork city, amid claims that the lack of progress on the facility is contributing to increasingly high trolley figures in Cork University Hospital (CUH).

Plans for the new regional elective surgical hospital, on the old St Stephen’s Hospital site in Glanmire, and originally slated for 2027 completion, have been delayed because road infrastructure might not be sufficient for either the construction phase or the completed hospital.

The HSE told an Oireachtas health committee last November that it is considering the introduction of a new slip road to service the hospital, and that it is in discussions with several landowners.

However, TDs have now expressed concern that this will require compulsory purchase orders, which could take several years.

CUH at Capacity

There were 90 people were on trolleys in Cork University Hospital yesterday (Tuesday), according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s daily trolley count.

This figure is close to the hospital’s record high of 98, set in October 2024.

The figure also marks a significant increase from 63 in CUH on Monday. There were also a further 24 people on trolleys in the Mercy and seven in Bantry General Hospital on Tuesday.

Overall, 699 people have been treated on trolleys in Cork so far this month, including 466 in CUH.

Cork Fine Gael TD Colm Burke told The Echo: “We have a problem in CUH and we will continue to have a problem there, regardless of what management do, because there’s such a high amount of services running there that the place is at capacity.

“This is why we need the elective hospital, and it’s really frustrating that it’s not even gone to the planning stage yet."

Mr Burke said. “The staff at CUH are making every effort, but we have a faster-growing population in Cork than any other area, and we are trying to deal with elective services at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, but it’s an old building and there are challenges there.”

Design Process

A HSE spokesperson told The Echo that a team is actively working on the design of the new hospital.

“This includes carrying out necessary surveys and site investigations to inform the design as it develops towards the submission of a planning-permission application,” the HSE added.

“The design team is identifying the enabling works required for the Cork site. A key issue emerging for the Cork site is the road access, and the HSE continues to actively engage with Cork City Council to find a solution.”

A surgical hub in CUH itself, which was due to open in 2024, is now scheduled to open between March and June of this year, according to latest estimates.

In response, a spokesperson said that Cork City Council was fully supportive of the HSE’s proposal to build an elective hospital at its Sarsfield Court site in Glanmire.

“The city council has engaged in extensive pre-planning discussions with the HSE on this proposal and substantial progress has been made on key planning issues identified.

“That engagement is continuing and the city council stands ready to help, as always, to progress matters as quickly as possible.

“The city council looks forward to considering a detailed planning application for this site, if and when it is submitted by the HSE,” they added.