Irish private hospital operator Kingsbridge Healthcare Group is investing €4.5 million in its Sligo facility to expand diagnostic imaging and day surgery capabilities serving patients across the north-west of Ireland.

According to a report by the Irish Independent, the investment will upgrade Kingsbridge Private Hospital with new endoscopy equipment, a CT scanner, MRI and X-ray services, and an additional operating theatre. Day surgery provision will cover cataracts, urology, and gynaecology, enabling patients to undergo procedures and return home without an overnight stay.

Work on the operating theatre and endoscopy units began on Monday, with those services temporarily suspended during the upgrade and due to resume when they reopen in mid-September. Outpatient and ultrasound clinics will continue throughout the works, as will MRI services and HSE antenatal appointments, ensuring that routine patient services are maintained with minimal disruption across the facility.

The hospital will serve patients across Sligo, Leitrim, south Donegal, north Mayo, and Roscommon, operating in a similar model to smaller HSE regional centres by handling tests and less complex procedures while more complex cases are referred to larger hospitals. Kingsbridge works with Irish private health insurers and supports patients through public healthcare schemes including the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme and contracts with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund, giving the facility a dual role across both private and publicly funded patient pathways.

Mark Regan, chief executive of Kingsbridge Healthcare Group, said: "This investment of more than €4.5m represents a strong commitment to the future of Kingsbridge in Sligo, so we can make the best possible contribution to the healthcare needs of the north-west for many years to come."

Regan added: "When upgrade works are complete, Kingsbridge Sligo will have some of the most advanced endoscopic diagnostic tools for gastrointestinal investigation on the island of Ireland, allowing physicians to detect cancers at an earlier stage."

The Sligo investment follows a separate £20 million (€23.6 million) commitment by Kingsbridge to its hospital in Co Derry, which provides surgery across multiple specialities and includes specialist paediatric services. Kingsbridge also operates private hospitals and clinics in Belfast and Newry. The Sligo hospital, formerly known as St Joseph's Hospital, was acquired by the group in 2015.