New Surgical Hub due to open by year's end at Merlin Park
Update on planned Galway healthcare facilities
THE Galway Surgical Hub is on track to be operational at Merlin Park University Hospital by the end of 2026.
The new facility is expected to reduce waiting times at Galway University Hospital. An update on its progress was recently provided to the Cabinet Committee on Health, and in the Department of Health's Annual Report 2025.
According to the report, the hub is due to be in operation in the fourth quarter of 2026, while design work is also underway for the larger Elective Hospital which is to be developed as an extension of the Merlin Park University Hospital campus.
The Galway Surgical Hub will feature four day-case theatres and two minor procedure rooms. It will have the capacity to deliver as many as 8,160 day-case procedures and up to 5,760 minor procedures annually. The hub is one of four new Surgical Hubs that are set to become operational during 2026, alongside Cork, Limerick and Waterford.
Junior Transport Minister Seán Canney said that the two facilities at Merlin Park will represent one of the most significant investments in planned healthcare services for the region.
“These facilities will help reduce waiting times, increase the number of procedures that can be carried out locally and ensure more people can access treatment sooner," said the Junior Transport Minister.
“It is an investment that will directly benefit patients and families right across Galway and the west."
The Elective Hospital at Merlin Park is planned to be an expansion of the existing Surgical Hub at the campus, creating a significantly larger centre dedicated to elective care.
The current plans for the Elective Hospital include eight day-case theatres (including four additional theatres), 10 minor procedure rooms and seven endoscopy suites. The HSE expect to lodge a planning application for this project in October.
Minister Canney noted that the development of the Elective Hospital would transform the delivery of scheduled healthcare in the region.
“By creating dedicated facilities for planned procedures, we can reduce cancellations caused by pressures on emergency departments and allow more patients to receive treatment when they need it,” he said.