RCSI has welcomed the announcement today that sites have been selected for new surgical hubs and the progress made in advancing this important project.

Current waiting times for surgery in Ireland remain a challenge for the health service. The expansion of elective surgical services, through these new hubs, will help improve access to timely scheduled surgical care for patients.

Professor Deborah McNamara, RCSI Vice President and consultant surgeon at Beaumont Hospital, said: “Waiting lists for surgical care in Ireland are unacceptably long. Patients waiting for scheduled care too often have their procedures cancelled when hospital systems are under pressure. We welcome initiatives such as this which will increase surgical capacity in Ireland.”

RCSI recently hosted a conference focused on the workforce requirements of the new hubs.

An expansion in services provides the opportunity to develop an innovative approach to addressing the global shortages in the nursing and medical workforce.

This could include the development of a career pathway for perioperative nursing, expansion of the physician associate workforce and the introduction of new roles in the operating theatre.