- 36 additional beds for CUH
- 24 additional beds for Mallow General Hospital
- 10 additional beds for Mercy University Hospital
- New CNU (105 beds) to open at St. Finbarr’s Hospital
- Paediatric Emergency Department to open in CUH
An increased health budget for 2025 will open new hospital beds and training places for GPs, delivering improved healthcare and better health outcomes, Fine Gael’s Cork North West General Election Candidate Cllr. John Paul O’Shea has said.
Cllr. O’Shea said an increased health budget of €25.8bn will build on the real progress that’s been made to further reduce outpatient care waiting lists and patient waiting times in general.
“330 new beds and 160 community beds nationally are to come on stream in 2025 – many of these are in Cork, and five emergency departments are to be expanded which includes the new Paediatric ED in CUH,” Cllr. O’Shea explained, adding that six new minor injury units are also to open across the country – with one of these being based in Ballincollig.
“In 2025, the health sector workforce will increase by 3,346. Crucially, additional training places will also be provided for GPs and nurses to enhance the capacity of frontline workers. This pipeline of professional healthcare workers is vital as we plan for our growing population.
“In tandem with bed and staffing capacity, the mental health budget will also increase significantly, to €1.4 billion, the benefits of which will be seen in services provided in Cork.
“The introduction of free Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) medication for women is a very progressive step, which will benefit vast numbers of women. This new measure will fund the cost of medicines, patches and devices and will save women between €30 and €70 per month, depending on which medication they use.
“Prospective parents will also welcome the extension of free IVF treatment, which to many will represent a lifeline to the many who have been dealing with infertility and may have found treatment financially prohibitive.
“And for parents, a chickenpox vaccine for children will be rolled out, providing another safeguard against a common and unpleasant illness.
“Ireland’s life expectancy is now one of the highest in the EU. Budget 2025 carves a clear pathway for the future of our health system, ensuring all our citizens receive quality health care both within the community and in our hospitals.”
