HSE South West has opened Ireland’s first protected theatre resource dedicated to cancer prevention surgery for people at high genetic or clinical risk. This new theatre pathway is one of only a handful of dedicated cancer-prevention theatre resources in Europe and marks a major step forward for prevention-led care in the region and nationally.
The protected theatre resource secures regular time and beds for risk-reducing surgery while allowing the theatre to be used by other specialties between booked sessions to maximise utilisation. Importantly, it forms the final, essential element of a comprehensive regional prevention programme that links rapid genetic testing, specialist risk clinics, radiological surveillance, surgical and reconstructive expertise, and one-to-one psychological and specialist nursing support.
Programme highlights include protected theatre slots for risk-reducing surgery at SIVUH in partnership with CUH; as well as holistic support including psychology, advanced nursing, and reconstructive plastic surgery options.
This achievement has been driven by regional collaboration across clinical, academic and community partners, including the Transforming Theatre Programme and University College Cork. Key contributors include CUH’s genetics team, surgical oncology, breast, gynaecology, specialist nursing and psychology services, and the CUH Charity.
