Minister for Health opens new operating theatre, delivery suite and ambulatory gynaecology unit at the Rotunda

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has today opened a newly constructed three-storey extension on the Rotunda Hospital campus.

The extension includes two new operating theatres, enhanced delivery suite facilities with a labouring pool, expanded Emergency Department as well as Dublin’s largest new Ambulatory Gynaecology Unit.

This extensive expansion of its hospital campus will greatly improve the maternity and gynaecological services that the Rotunda currently offers women and babies in Dublin and surrounding counties.

Pictured is Fiona Walsh, Midwife Manager, Professor Fergal Malone, Master of the Rotunda Hospital, Fiona Hanrahan, Director of Midwifery & Nursing, and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly at the opening of the newly constructed three-storey extension on the Rotunda Hospital campus
Photo Chris Bellew /Fennell Photography.

Speaking at the opening, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said:

“Promoting Women’s Health is a key pillar of the broader health agenda under the Programme for Government.

“Developments such as the new facilities here at the Rotunda, as well as the increased levels of funding being provided to Women’s Healthcare both this year and next, clearly reflect the Government’s commitment to improving services in this area.”

Professor Fergal Malone, Master of the Rotunda Hospital said:

“On behalf of management and staff at the Rotunda Hospital, I am pleased to welcome the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, T.D. today.

“As the busiest maternity hospital in Europe and with patient numbers increasing year on year, these new facilities provide the hospital with contemporary, state-of-the-art clinical facilities to deliver safe, effective and efficient patient care.

“We are continually working closely with the HSE, the Department of Health and RCSI Hospitals Group to ensure that the physical infrastructure of the Rotunda is optimized to ensure that all patients receive the best care possible.

“The Rotunda looks forward to working collaboratively with Minister Donnelly in the future to achieve his aim of investing efficiently and developing women’s healthcare service provision so that Hospitals like the Rotunda can continue to provide a world class, safe, dignified and quality service provision for the women of Ireland.”

The Rotunda Hospital is the oldest continuously operating maternity hospital in the world, founded in 1745 and has been operating out of its current buildings since 1757. Approximately one in six of all babies born in Ireland are born in the Rotunda Hospital and in 2021, over 9,000 babies were born in the hospital, representing a 10% increase on 2020.

The hospital is the largest provider of gynaecology services on the north side of Dublin and for the entire north-east of the country, with over 600 new gynaecology referrals being managed monthly.

The hospital is the lead maternity and gynaecology provider for the RCSI Hospitals Group. Its new ambulatory gynaecology service operates a “see-and-treat” model, which provides immediate management for a wide range of gynaecology complaints.