Tallaght University Hospital open Reeves Day Surgery Centre

Tallaght University Hospital today opened a 3,460 Sq M facility with four theatres and 25 recovery beds.

The new Reeves Day Surgery Centre located across the road from the main hospital will eliminate long wait times for routine day surgery and increase day surgery rates.

The goal of the new Reeves Day Surgery Centre is to reduce day surgery waiting times to a maximum of six months within 12 months of being fully operational.

Phase 1 (from December 2020) involves three of the four theatres ramping up to full activity within four months; the 4th theatre will open in Phase 2 of the development (2021-2022).

The opening of the RDSC is part of an ambitious five year strategy for the Hospital which recognises the changing direction of health care provision across the country in respect of new infrastructure requirements, more community-based services and increased reliance on innovation, technology and research-led care.

The opening of the Reeves Day Surgery Centre is an important step in the realisation of this strategy.

The Centre will eliminate long wait times for routine day surgery and improve access for patients and support the Hospital with the increasing demands of serving a growing and aging population.

The establishment of the centre was a joint project between TUH and IRES, building work began in October 2019. Within four months of opening, 80% of all day surgery activity across all surgical specialties in TUH will be performed in the new Centre.

Commenting on the opening of the new Reeves Day Surgery Centre at TUH, Chief Executive Lucy Nugent commented:

“This year is certainly one we will never forget.

“As frontline workers and individuals we have been presented with many challenges this year.

“The fact that we are able to treat our first patients in this new modern facility before the end of the year is an incredible testament to the entire team that worked on this project.

“Our staff, partners and suppliers have achieved the impossible this year with the completion of the Vartry Renal Unit and now the opening of the Reeves Day Surgery Centre despite delays due to lockdown and increased safety measures around ways of working.

“This new facility will serve the patients and community well over the next few years as it goes some way in helping to address the continuing challenge of access at TUH.”

Prof Paul Ridgway, Perioperative Director at TUH said

“This is a landmark day for surgery at TUH for patients and for staff.

“This new facility will mean that theatre can continue without the threat of being impacted by inpatient bed pressures.

“We can focus on increasing our surgical activity caring for patients in a more timely fashion. There is also the benefit of the main Hospital having Dayward space that can now be used permanently for inpatient use.”

The Centre will open Monday to Friday from 7am to 8pm running two surgical sessions per day in each theatre, with each session lasting four hours in length and with a 30 minute turnaround time between each session.