"New Surgical Hubs a huge step forward for Northwest Healthcare" says Junior Minister

The Government have given the green light for significant new investments in healthcare infrastructure for the North-West region.A new surgical hub will be located close to Sligo University Hospital, while at Letterkenny University Hospital a new surgical hub is proposed along with expanded oncology services.The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, says the Programme for Government committed to exploring the provision of a surgical hub for the North-West and that patients in this region should have access to sufficient and timely surgical capacity. The HSE will now begin progressing the proposals, which include in Sligo a new stand-alone, two-theatre surgical hub It's expected that the facility will significantly expand elective surgical capacity in the region.Meanwhile Letterkenny University Hospital will see the development of a new two-theatre surgical hub beside the existing hospital building, along with the addition of 30 ambulatory day oncology chairs.There has been a mass welcoming of this monring's announcement.Sligo TD and Junior Minister Marian Harkin found herself at the centre of the saga after claims that situating a hub in Sligo was part of her terms and conditions for offering her support for the government.Minister Harkin says it's a real step forward for medical care in the north west to have surgical hubs in the north west.