University Hospital Waterford, through its regional cancer centre for the South East, has become a member of the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes.

In following the other seven Irish centres into the international body’s membership, University Hospital Waterford (UHW), through its regional cancer centre* will now undergo a two-year accreditation journey.

The process will involve completing a comprehensive self-assessment against the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) quality standards, collecting and submitting evidence and performance data, identifying opportunities for improvement and demonstrating that UHW’s cancer services meet internationally recognised standards across all aspects of patient care, governance, research, education and quality.

At the end of this process, UHW will undergo an external review and site visit by the OECI assessment team.

UHW’s membership was confirmed at the recently held OECI international Oncology Day event in Warsaw, Poland and at which a presentation was given by Prof. Miriam O’ Connor, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Regional Cancer Centre/University Hospital Waterford.

The Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation established in Vienna in 1979 and restructured in 2005 as a European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG). Headquartered in Brussels, the OECI brings together over 170 cancer centres across Europe and beyond, fostering a collaborative network dedicated to improving cancer training, research and care. By uniting expertise and resources, OECI strives to reduce cancer incidence and mortality, ensuring equitable access to high-quality care for all patients.

The OECI Oncology Day are forums for dialogue, exchange and cooperation among OECI Members. The 2026 event was held in Warsaw in collaboration with the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology. The conference attracted more than 400 participants, who engaged in discussions on the OECI Accreditation and Designation Programme, the activities of the OECI Working Groups and other initiatives carried out by OECI in the framework of the EU Cancer Mission and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

Welcoming the hospital and its regional cancer centre’s membership of the OECI, Ben O’ Sullivan, CEO, University Hospital Waterford (UHW) said:  “This is a significant milestone for cancer services in UHW and the South East and reflects the commitment and dedication of our multidisciplinary teams in delivering high-quality cancer care. Our thanks to Prof. Miriam O’Connor for her dedication and leadership in bringing us to this juncture.

“This achievement will require collaboration across many departments and services throughout the hospital. As the final cancer centre in Ireland to begin the OECI accreditation journey, UHW is committed to achieving the standards required for accreditation over the next two years. In doing so, we also look forward to working with staff across Wexford General Hospital, St. Luke’s General Hospital Carlow Kilkenny and Tipperary University Hospital in this journey of continuous improvement.”