Surgical hub ‘expansion’ and more hospital ‘capacity’ promised in Budget

The expansion of surgical hubs and the opening of additional “hospital and community capacity” will be some of the measures arising from the health funding within Budget 2027 according to the Minister for Health.

The Government announced that €29.1 billion was being “delivered” for health services in the Budget.

“This €29.1 billion allocation is focused on what matters most to patients: earlier access, more care closer to home and better use of our staff, facilities and equipment,” said Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.“We will expand our surgical hubs, open additional hospital and community capacity, strengthen GP and pharmacy services and accelerate digital health.”

According to the Department of Health the funding “continues investment in more care, closer to home” and includes;

• “Additional €1.76 billion will expand capacity, strengthen community services and accelerate reform across the health service”.
• More evening and weekend activity across theatres, outpatient clinics and diagnostics, making better use of existing staff, facilities and equipment.
• Additional hospital, community and mental health capacity will be opened and brought into operation.
• 1.8 million additional home-support hours and €2 million more for Meals on Wheels.
• Continued expansion of healthcare training places “to strengthen the future workforce”.
• Expanded older persons and community supports, including additional home-support hours, dementia services and community-based care.
• Improved access to oral health and orthodontic services for children, including reducing waiting lists in the School Dental Programme and improving access to more complex dental treatment.

“More planned care will also be provided in the evenings and at weekends, helping patients to be seen, diagnosed and treated sooner,” said Minister Carroll MacNeill.

“Our priority is to ensure that the investment we are announcing today delivers clear, measurable improvement to services for people.

“Budget 2027 will also support a more responsive and efficient model of care by aligning the workforce with patient demand, reducing reliance on agency staffing and moving care to community, home-based and virtual settings. For people living with and beyond cancer, this will include providing suitable monitoring and follow-up closer to home, making care more convenient while protecting hospital capacity for those who need specialist treatment.”