The South East sub-committee of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum South had its first meeting of 2025 this week, where members heard updates from HSE management on several capital projects in the Waterford area.
Among projects currently being progressed in the Waterford Healthcare Area are:
Acute Hospitals and Ambulance Services:
· Phase 1 of the Surgical Hub construction project at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) is underway, with phases 2, 3 , and 4 due for completion by the middle of 2026.
· A design team has been appointed to construct a new 96-bed inpatient block at UHW. The project will include a linking corridor to the existing hospital buildings.
· Work is ongoing on an extension building at UHW for additional laboratory facilities.
· A new development control plan for the UHW complex is being prepared.
Community Healthcare Services:
- Work will be completed shortly on a new HSE Audiology, Orthodontic, and Ophthalmology Integrated Healthcare Hub Centre in Waterford. Facilitated by the renovation of disused ward blocks at St. Otteran’s Hospital, the ground floor will feature an Audiology Unit with testing booths, treatment areas, and staff facilities. An Orthodontic Unit will feature on the first floor, inclusive of treatment areas, Radiology, Decontamination Unit, offices, and staff facilities. The Ophthalmology Unit will be housed across two floors and will include consultation rooms and offices which are accessed separately. The Hub will facilitate outpatient appointments across all three Consultant-led disciplines, which to date took place in University Hospital Waterford.
- Phased works, inclusive of roof replacements and internal renovation, are planned (subject to securing of capital funding) for the main building at St. Otteran’s Hospital in Waterford. When completed, it will allow for significant space to become available for the accommodation of various HSE acute hospital and community healthcare-related clinical care, treatment, therapy, and other support services.
- Plans are being progressed for the development of a new Primary Care Centre in Lismore, Co. Waterford.
- Refurbishments have been carried out at Dungarvan Community Hospital for the accommodation of Community Health Network teams, with a further phase due for completion later this year.
- Construction was completed in Dungarvan late last year of the “Seabreeze” residential care centre for those with enduring mental health conditions. A state-of-the-art 12-bed single-story facility on the Youghal Rd. Seabreeze replaces accommodation previously located at Springmount House on the Dungarvan Community Hospital complex and became operational in November.
- Following the project’s inclusion in the HSE Capital Plan, a design brief is being prepared regarding the development of a new Residential Care Centre onsite to replace the existing Dungarvan Community Hospital.
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