The HSE has said it plans to deliver an extra 297 acute hospital beds this year, under its 2025 National Service Plan, published today.
It also promises to deliver 12 more critical care beds, to bring the total Intensive Care Unit capacity to the planned 352 beds, by the end of the year.
The National Service Plan outlines how the €26.9 billion allocated in last year's budget will be spent this year.
The plan says that surgical hubs are due to be in place during 2025 and 2026.
These will be in South Dublin, North Dublin, Galway, Cork, Waterford and Limerick, along with a feasibility examination for the North West.
It is expected that the surgical hubs, when operational, will each deliver 4,000 extra day case treatments, 5,800 extra minor operations and 18,500 extra out patient appointments.
The HSE said that a Wait List Action Plan 2025 will outline the detailed approach to tackling waiting lists this year.
It will be a part of a multi-year approach towards achieving Sláintecare maximum wait times, of no more than 12 weeks for an inpatient/day case procedure or gastrointestinal (GI) scope and 10 weeks for a new outpatient appointment.
An expansion of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service teams is also promised this year.
The HSE said that the six new regional health areas will be fully operational from 1 March, under the health reforms, moving from the traditional operating centre of the HSE, to the six visible regional health areas.
January 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HSE.
