Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill welcomed progress on a masterplan for the expansion of University Hospital Galway during a visit on Thursday.
GUH is the only Model 4 Hospital in HSE West North West, it serves a population of over 850,000 people and is one of the busiest hospitals in the country.
Minister Carroll MacNeill met with HSE management and staff today to discuss the UHG Masterplan, a transformative initiative designed to reshape healthcare delivery for the West and North West of Ireland over the next 25 years.
The development control plan (DCP) for UHG has been completed and will be used to support capital submissions for a series of priority capital projects on the campus.
The plan comprises the following major projects to improve the hospitals capacity:
- Two new Ward Blocks, each providing 150 acute beds with shell and core floors for later fit-outs including maternity and diagnostic services
- An Ambulatory Cancer Centre
- A new Laboratory Block
- A new Emergency, ICU and Surgical block
A new, permanent helipad, which will allow the hospital to be futureproofed for the next 40 years, is a vital component of this work.
The final stages of the development control plan include the following additional accommodation:
- An enlarged Main Entrance
- An enlarged Paediatric/Maternity Centre
- Facilities for Staff, Research and Education
Other works underway or planned for Merlin Park Hospital will see high volume, low complexity cases such as elective, day case procedures and outpatient services moved to the MPUH campus, while complex acute care, oncology, maternity and paediatric inpatient care will remain in UHG.
The infrastructure developments ongoing in Merlin Park involve;
- Construction of a new surgical hub, which is expected to open in Q2 2026.
- The construction of a new elective hospital for the region, currently in stage one of design. Enabling works are progressing to de-risk the site in advance of the main construction phase.
- The relocation of outpatient services to Merlin Park Hospital, where a new Outpatient Department block was completed in 2024 and became operational earlier this year. Phase Two of this development, which will enable the relocation of further outpatient appointments, is currently at the design stage.
As part of her visit, Minister Carroll MacNeill visited the Merlin Park campus to view the site of the new surgical hub, the proposed site for the planned new elective hospital and the recently opened Outpatient Department.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said, “I’m very pleased to be here today to see the impact of the Government’s significant investment in Galway University Hospitals, both at Merlin Park University Hospital and University Hospital Galway.”
“It was a pleasure to meet with and thank staff in the newly opened Outpatient Department and Cystic Fibrosis Units at Merlin Park, which represent a combined investment of almost €19 million.”
“I also met with the team to discuss plans to modernise Galway University Hospital, and I’m excited to see the real progress being made with the new Surgical Hub for the region.”
“I know the team in Galway have worked closely with officials in my Department to develop a holistic plan that is comprehensive and deliverable.”
“The upgrading, modernising and expansion of patient facilities in Galway will contribute to improved waiting times and greater care for patients not just in Galway but across the west and north west region.”
Chris Kane, Hospital Manager for GUH said that the development of this UHG masterplan is an important step in setting out the phased development of the hospital in the coming years.
“Each of the subsequent phases required to deliver the overall ambition will be developed in turn.”
“A parallel development control plan for MPUH is underway and decanting works are in progress.”
“We are very excited about the potential of this plan to deliver a modern, future-proofed hospital which our patients need and deserve.”
Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer HSE West and North West, concluded, “We need to ensure that the only Model 4 hospital we have in the region meets the highest standards and delivers the best possible outcomes for patients.”
“I was delighted to welcome Minister Carroll MacNeill to GUH today, and I would like to thank her for her support in progressing these ambitious plans for better patient care in our region.”
