Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill opens new infrastructure developments in Sligo University Hospital

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill performed two official openings and turned the sod on a new 42 bed ward block at Sligo University Hospital (SUH) during her visit to Sligo today, May 2nd 2025.

A key priority for Sligo University Hospital is to increase and expand patient facilities to meet the growing demand for acute hospital services in our region. Building a new 42 bed ward block is critical to this plan and the hospital is committed to progressing the new beds as quickly as possible.

Today, Minister Carroll MacNeill turned the sod on the site of the new ward block development, with a contract construction in excess of €30m and an estimated completion time of Q4 2027. The unit will include two 21 bed wards comprising of single en-suite rooms with ancillary accommodation and additional shell-and-core area for future development of Cardiology CT and expansion of Day Services.

This provides an interim solution to secure additional medical beds over the next two to three years, in advance of a longer term plan to develop a multi-service block over the next 8 years.

Minister Carroll MacNeill also officially opened 26 beds in the SUH offsite ward located in St John’s Community Hospital. This facility began receiving patients in January of this year and provides additional bed capacity and improved accommodation for patients as well as easing patient flow from the Emergency Department and throughout the hospital.

The additional beds were part of the capital funding from the HSE 2024 Capital Plan, costing in excess of €2.5m for the design, build and equipping of the ward. 

The medical offsite ward, which is a specialised facility, provides structured medical support to patients who meet the criteria for the ward and will continue to benefit from medical supervision and therapeutic support provided by a full team of health and social care professionals in a calm environment. It is suitable for patients who would benefit from an additional few days under the care of hospital staff.

A second CT scanner at SUH was opened by Minister Carroll MacNeill as part of the visit. The service will be operational from May 5th 2025 and will greatly add to the diagnostic capacity at the hospital; reducing waiting times for outpatient appointments and reducing turnaround times for emergency department patients.

SUH Radiology department has seen significant increase in demand for CT scans over the past ten years, growing by 56% between 2014 and 2024. Having a second CT scanner will allow for continuation of essential cover for trauma, stroke, emergency and inpatient services, improved GP access and provide in-house contingency if a CT scanner becomes non-operational.  

This fully supports the Sláintecare goal of treating patients as close to home where clinically safe and appropriate.

Minister Carroll MacNeill said: “I am delighted to be in Sligo University Hospital today to see first-hand the infrastructural investment and to thank staff for their work. Developments like the new off-site ward at St John’s Hospital, are responding to increased patient demand and enhancing capacity to provide timely, quality care to patients. 

“Together with the new ward block development under construction and the new CT scanner, these developments are an important step in our ongoing efforts to provide modern patient facilities in which world-class care is delivered for the benefit of the whole region.”

John Fitzmaurice, HSE IHA Manager Sligo, Leitrim, West Cavan, South Donegal said: “We are delighted to have Minister Carroll MacNeill here to perform these official openings. This is a great day for Health Services in Sligo. Today marks significant investment in our local services and will see improved waiting times and greater inpatient care for those in Sligo.”

Grainne McCann, Hospital Manager, concluded: “These new developments are very welcome additions to the hospital. Our new Offsite ward at St John’s has had a positive effect on patient flow and overcrowding in SUH on site while the new 42 bed day ward will enable greater quality of service and improved patient outcomes where patients receive care in an appropriate setting in a timelier manner. Meanwhile having a second CT scanner will ensure continuous coverage for trauma, stroke, emergency, and inpatient services, improve GP access and provide in-house contingency."