Two New Replacement Orthopaedic Theatres for Merlin Park University Hospital

Two new replacement orthopaedic operating theatres on the Merlin Park site, which cost €10.57m to design, build and equip, will be used for the first time this Friday 10 June 2022.

Prior to the opening of the new theatres, there was only one orthopaedic theatre on the Merlin Park site. This was the only facility available in Galway University Hospitals (GUH) to provide elective orthopaedic procedures. The two new replacement theatres are required to restore full elective orthopaedic procedures in Merlin Park University Hospital and address orthopaedic waiting lists.

Construction of the 620m2 theatre building began in March 2021 following a public procurement tendering for a main contractor. The build consists of two operating theatres, two anaesthesia rooms, a recovery area and other ancillary accommodation to support the theatre suites. The theatre building is connected to the main hospital block by a link corridor which is the access point for patients and staff.

The hospital has been providing 10 theatre sessions per week; this will increase to 20 sessions per week when two fully functional theatres are in place which will enable approximately 4,000 procedures per annum to be carried out. Demand for orthopaedic services is increasing year on year as is the complexity and sub specialisation within orthopaedic surgery. GUH is currently recruiting staff to increase the number of theatre sessions to 20 per week and will also be seeking funding to staff the old theatre in 2023 to assist in providing further capacity.

Mr Aiden Devitt, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon said, “The new operating theatres are a major enhancement for the hospital and for orthopaedic services in the west and I am extremely proud of everyone involved in bringing this long-awaited project to completion. We now have a state of the art theatre suite which will double our capacity for surgical procedures and will reduce waiting times for patients. Our orthopaedic patients will be treated in a modern, spacious and technologically advanced facility and I am delighted to be commencing procedures in the new theatres this week.”

Ms Chris Kane, Hospital Manager said, “This is a significant investment in healthcare infrastructure for the people living along the western seaboard who come to Galway for their surgery. The theatres have been built and equipped to a very high specification to enable us to deliver the best possible care to our patients”.

“We look forward to resuming a full elective orthopaedic surgery service in Merlin Park University Hospital.