Letterkenny's new surgical hub to include barriers to prevent bed pressures

The new surgical hub at Letterkenny University Hospital will be designed with physical barriers to prevent emergency bed pressures from disrupting planned surgery.

While Letterkenny University Hospital often has to cancel elective surgeries due to bed pressures, the HSE plans to protect the hub for elective day case activity. The hub will be connected to the existing hospital but with physical barriers to protect it from inpatient surge capacity.

Work is underway to finalise the design brief, including the schedule of accommodation for the surgical hub.

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The design of the phase 1 block will also incorporate a separate entrance dedicated to outpatient access to the surgical hub.

In response to a query from Councillor Declan Meehan at the Regional Health Forum West, the HSE said the new development will be connected to the hospital to allow for future vertical expansion. The design will allow for future reconfiguration if required.

Councillor Meehan said: "The concern that has been raised by some of the staff team at LUH is the need to protect the surgical hub from surge capacity, which is the whole idea of a surgical hub, to ensure vital elective procedures can continue."

Cllr Meehan said his question followed concerns about the high volume of cancelled surgeries at the hospital and the frequent unavailability of the Acute Medical Assessment Unit within the Emergency Department due to surge capacity pressures.

The HSE also confirmed that operational policies for the surgical hub are currently being developed and will become clearer as the design progresses through 2026. These policies will help determine how the hub links back to the existing hospital while remaining protected for elective care.

Almost €10,000 was specifically allocated to the LUH surgical hub project in the HSE's Building and Equipment Capital Plan 2026, published on Wednesday. The funding plan includes a €550,000 allocation to the review of the current Development Control Plans, which will guide the sequencing of future developments on the hospital campus.