New Surgical Hub at Mount Carmel Community Hospital, One of the First ‘Green Theatres’ in Ireland

The newly completed surgical hub within the existing hospital features of Mount Carmel Community Hospital consists of four operating theatres, two major theatres equipped with Ultra Clean Ventilation (UCV) canopies and two minor theatres designed for less complex procedures. The hub is located on the first floor of the hospital and includes a Stage 1 and Stage 2 recovery area, as well as supporting spaces, a reception area, and essential infrastructure to ensure seamless surgical operations. Changing rooms for surgical staff are situated on the third floor. This facility was designed with a focus on sustainability, serving as one of the first ‘green theatres’ in Ireland.

JV Tierney & Co. provided the Technical Advisory role on this project which employed M&E services including:

• Energy Efficient LED Lighting
• Medical gas plant supplying oxygen, medical air, vacuum systems, and an Anaesthetic Gas Scavenging System (AGSS) to meet the demands of the surgical environment
• Mechanical ventilation provided in most areas. Each operating theatre is served by a dedicated air handling unit (AHU), delivering precise ventilation, heating, and cooling to meet surgical air quality standards.
• A new plantroom housing gas boilers with provisions for future connection to Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) to enhance energy efficiency. The outdated steam boilers were removed and replaced with a more energy efficient gas-fired system, providing a more reliable and sustainable heating solution.
• The electrical infrastructure was upgraded to support the facility’s increased demand. A new generator was commissioned to cater for the additional electrical load, ensuring resilience and continuity of service
• The facility is also equipped with a UPS backup system to provide uninterrupted power to critical areas, and new static inverters were installed to support essential systems.