Investing in Women's Health in Kerry: Opening the New Women's Health Hub in Tralee

I was delighted to visit Tralee to officially open the new Women's Health Hub, a landmark investment in healthcare services for Kerry and a significant step forward for women's health in the region.

Located on John Joe Sheehy Road, the hub welcomed its first patients earlier this year and represents an investment of more than €8 million in women's healthcare. Designed to provide integrated and accessible services, it brings together a wide range of healthcare professionals under one roof, including consultants, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, infant feeding specialists, social workers, perinatal mental health professionals, and bereavement support teams.

What stood out during my visit was not only the quality of the new facility but also the dedication of the healthcare professionals who will provide care there every day. The hub reflects the type of healthcare service we are working to deliver across the country: integrated, person-centred care that is accessible, responsive, and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for patients.

Women have consistently told us that healthcare services should be easier to access, better connected, and more responsive to their needs. The Women's Health Hub is a direct response to that feedback. By bringing a range of specialist services together in a modern community setting, women will be able to access expert support closer to home, benefit from earlier interventions where needed, and experience smoother pathways between community and hospital-based care.

I was pleased to meet the dedicated teams from HSE South West, University Hospital Kerry, and the Ireland South Women & Infants Health Network, whose vision and commitment helped bring this important project to fruition. Their work will have a lasting impact on women and families across Kerry for many years to come.

During my visit to Kerry, I also had the opportunity to spend time at University Hospital Kerry, where I met with staff, discussed planned capital developments, and visited the Palliative Care Unit. It was a valuable opportunity to hear directly from frontline healthcare workers and see first-hand the ongoing efforts to improve healthcare services across the county.

The new Women's Health Hub is about much more than a building. It represents a commitment to delivering better experiences, improved access, and better health outcomes for women. Investments such as this demonstrate our determination to strengthen women's health services and ensure that every woman can access the care and support she needs, when she needs it.

I want to thank everyone involved in bringing this project from concept to reality and wish the entire team every success as they continue to provide exceptional care for the women and families of Kerry.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD
Minister for Health