Trauma Unit to be established in University Hospital Waterford

Funding has been announced for a new Trauma Unit at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) from an allocation unlocked by Budget 2025.

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, announced the funding for the crucial new unit, which is being funded as part of the National Trauma Strategy. The allocation of the funding will allow the hospital to begin recruitment for the staff necessary to run the new unit which will be integrated into the South Trauma Network. 

"UHW serves a large population across an extensive area and the development of a Trauma Unit will significantly enhance this service," the Minister for Health said. "While people with major trauma will be managed at the Major Trauma Centre in Cork University Hospital, the skills and expertise at UHW’s Trauma Unit will ensure that patients can access care appropriate to their injuries closer to home."

“The development of the unit at UHW represents another important step in the implementation of the Trauma Strategy, to ensure patients receive the appropriate level of care, in the right place, at the right time,” said Minister Donnelly.

“We know from international best practice that an inclusive trauma system leads to reduced deaths and disabilities. That is why, in addition to the €12.65 million invested in trauma services to date, I’ve allocated an additional €4 million for trauma care in 2025," he added. “I know this will be a very welcome development for the people of Waterford and across the South East.”

Minister of State and Waterford TD Mary Butler warmly welcomed the news saying that the funding "will allow trauma patients with less severe injuries to be treated locally and to receive optimal trauma care within a coordinated and integrated system."

“Under the strategy, two regional hub-and-spoke networks are being developed to provide care for the approximately 1,600 people who suffer major trauma in Ireland each year," she said. 

"Each network has one designated Major Trauma Centre (MTC) for the treatment of major trauma and Trauma Units for the treatment of injuries of a lesser severity," she added. "The establishment of Trauma Units will also help to distribute the patient flow more evenly across the healthcare service and reduce pressure on other hospitals."

University Hospital Waterford is also currently recruiting staff to facilitate weekend cardiac coverage to enable the hospital to offer cardiac care from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. Minister Butler said earlier this month that the General Manager of UHW has advised her that the recruitment process is going well for the service.