Additionally, it pledges to provide 12 additional critical care beds by the end of the year, increasing the Intensive Care Unit's overall capacity to the anticipated 352 beds. The €26.9 billion allotted in the previous year's budget will be used this year, according to the National Service Plan.
Surgical hubs are expected to be established in 2025 and 2026, according to the proposal. Along with a feasibility study for the North West, these will take place in South Dublin, North Dublin, Galway, Cork, Waterford, and Limerick.
When the surgical hubs are operational, they are anticipated to provide an additional 18,500 outpatient appointments, 5,800 minor surgeries, and 4,000 day case treatments each.
According to the HSE, a Wait List Action Plan 2025 will specify the specific strategy for addressing waiting lists this year. It will be a part of a multi-year strategy to reach Sláintecare's maximum wait periods, which are 10 weeks for a new outpatient appointment and 12 weeks for an inpatient/day case procedure or gastrointestinal (GI) scope.
This year also promises to increase the number of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service teams. As part of the health reforms, the HSE announced that the six new regional health areas will be fully operational on March 1st.
The HSE will be shifting from its usual operating centre to the six visible regional health areas. The 20th anniversary of the HSE's founding is in January 2025.