Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) is to open an Integrated Healthcare Hub in Waterford for outpatient services.
The €17m ($18.34m) project involved the renovation of the St Paul’s building at St Otteran’s, John’s Hill, which will now offer outpatient appointments for three consultant-led disciplines.
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The renovation of two floors at the St Otteran’s Complex has created a facility for orthodontics, audiology and ophthalmology services.
Although theatre-based, acute interventional and specialist operations will continue to take place at University Hospital Waterford, all outpatient activities for these services will be transferred to the new hub.
The Integrated Healthcare Hub project was approved in 2022, with renovation work beginning in 2023.
The complex now has a two-storey entrance, 42 parking spaces, disabled parking and improved accessibility.
Covering around 30,000ft², the facility includes an X-ray area, treatment areas, a decontamination unit and staff facilities.
The Integrated Healthcare Hub is currently in the equipping phase and is scheduled to welcome patients for services in audiology, orthodontics and ophthalmology from May.
HSE Dublin and South East Waterford and Wexford Integrated Healthcare area manager Dr Sinéad Reynolds said: “In line with the national Sláintecare strategy, we have been integrating hospital and primary healthcare and enhancing community care.
“This investment will also benefit University Hospital Waterford, where the move of inpatient services associated with this project will free up space at UHW for its acute medical activity serving the South East region.
“Working with the RKD architectural firm, Nevin Construction and other contractors, it has been a meticulous renovation process and we have ensured that every aspect of the building met the modern standards required for medical departments.
“We look forward to the public and our own HSE staff availing of the impressive piece of healthcare infrastructure that is the Integrated Healthcare Hub in the new St Otteran’s Complex.”
