Blackrock Health has announced plans to invest €500m across its group of hospitals over the next five years.

This group includes Hermitage Clinic and Blackrock Clinic in Dublin, as well as Galway Clinic and Limerick Clinic.

The expansion is expected to create 1,000 new jobs in the Dublin and Galway areas, bringing the group’s total workforce to 4,000 across the country.

The investment will add 187 new beds across its Dublin and Galway locations, including 77 in-patient beds and 110 ambulatory care beds.

The expansion will also include 14 new operating theatres, six new cardiac cath labs and a cancer centre.

The cancer centre will be located at the Blackrock Clinic, while a new dedicated eye health clinic will also be opened at the Hermitage Clinic.

A new cardiac CT scanner will be available at the Galway Clinic.

This project will see the group’s total number of beds rise to 808, while it will also have 36 operating theatres.

“Our plans for each hospital in the group are aligned to best practice thinking on the delivery of healthcare services in the future and respond to the needs of patients that we treat across each location,” Blackrock Health group chief executive Dr Caroline Whelan said.

“This includes expansion on ambulatory care beds by utilising the latest in medical advancements and as a result, reducing the need for hospital stays,” she added.

Blackrock Health said that it would also make continued investment into technology at its clinics.

“As our population continues to grow and age with more people living longer, we must always focus on their future healthcare needs,” Dr Whelan said.

Reporting on:independent.ie