University Hospital Limerick now offering more paediatric surgeries

Over 130 children have had surgery at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) under a new national model of care for general paediatric surgery.

Under this new model of care, which saw UHL become the first centre in Ireland to welcome a visiting Consultant Paediatric Surgeon from Children’s Health Ireland, the majority of children who need common elective surgeries can now have certain procedures done on the Limerick campus.

Paediatric endoscopy lists and outpatient clinics are also being run in UHL and Ennis Hospital, with over 500 OPD attendances to date.

The new model aims to improve access for children and families, from Clare and across the region, and to bring surgical care as close to home as possible.

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Professor Tara Connelly, consultant general surgeon with a special interest in paediatric surgery, has updated attendees at the annual Sylvester O’Halloran Perioperative Symposium 2025 on the development of UHL as a regional paediatric surgical centre.

For the first time, children who need surgeries including hernia repair, endoscopy, skin lesions and undescended testis fixation, can have their treatments carried out in the Mid-West.

In addition to Prof Connelly’s appointment, UHL also became the first centre in Ireland to welcome a visiting Consultant Paediatric Surgeon from Children’s Health Ireland, Ms Nicola Brindley.

Delivering the annual Thomas Myles lecture at the conference, Prof Connelly said: “I am proud to be part of a team in Limerick that is leading the way in transforming how we deliver specialist care.

“Most importantly for our young patients and their families, it means they have access to surgical care as close to home as possible.

“This is already making a huge difference to families who until now have faced the long journey to Dublin for their procedures.”

Prof Connelly added she had every expectation the volume of general paediatric surgery at UHL would continue to grow as the national model of care was implemented, supported through the appointment of more consultants and specialist nursing staff as well as designated theatre time and paediatric day surgery beds over time.

“The early development of these services has been made possible by working closely with colleagues in Children’s Health Ireland and the HSE to build up regional services as part of a national network for paediatric healthcare,” Prof Connelly concluded.