The newly opened Surgical Institute Dublin has benefited from a €2.25 million loan facility from AIB to help fund equipment procurement and construction costs. The purpose-built facility in Ballsbridge, Dublin, brings together more than 40 specialist consultants across dermatology, Mohs surgery, plastic surgery, oculoplastics, pathology and medical oncology in what is Ireland’s first large-scale consultant partnership ambulatory surgery centre.
The facility includes four minor procedure theatres, a dedicated Mohs laboratory, a recovery area, a nurse admission suite, consulting rooms designed for see-and-treat and surgical dressing clinics. Mohs micrographic surgery is regarded as the gold-standard treatment for skin cancer and will be a cornerstone of the centre’s offering and represents the only private Mohs capacity currently available in Dublin.
The see-and-treat clinics are open for direct GP referral and consultant-to-consultant referral. Under this model, a patient with a suspicious skin lesion can be assessed by a consultant and, where clinically appropriate, have the lesion treated or removed during the same visit.
“AIB is backing Irish businesses that are investing in sectors that are important to Ireland’s future, with Surgical Institute Dublin providing a strong example of how business banking can support both enterprise growth and healthcare infrastructure,” says Cathy Bryce, managing director capital markets at AIB.
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“Surgical Institute Dublin [SID] is an Irish-led, consultant-owned and consultant-led business and AIB Business Banking has supported its development with a €2.25 million loan facility to help fund construction costs and equipment, showing how bank finance can help turn specialist clinical expertise into new healthcare capacity,” she adds.
SID was cofounded by dermatologists Prof Caitríona Ryan and Prof Nicola Ralph, who run the Institute of Dermatologists at Herbert Park, Ballsbridge, together with Conor Murphy, formerly of Goldman Sachs.
The aim is to help bridge a gap in current healthcare provision. Ireland’s growing and ageing population is driving increased demand for healthcare services, creating a need for additional capacity across both public and private systems. SID’s model is designed to expand access, shorten the time from referral to treatment and free up hospital capacity for care that genuinely requires an inpatient setting.
In addition, the centre is expanding beyond dermatological surgery into other specialties suited to a modern ambulatory surgery setting, including pain management, sports medicine, venous surgery and gynaecology.
SID now has agreements in place with all of Ireland’s health insurers – Vhi Healthcare, Laya Healthcare, Irish Life Health and Level Health. It is anticipated that the initial 25 jobs created by the centre will double to 50 within two years.
“We are delighted to support Surgical Institute Dublin as it invests in its new state of the art facility in Ballsbridge,” says Bryce. “This investment reflects its commitment to delivering high-quality patient care, and its ambition for future growth. At AIB, we are committed to supporting Irish businesses and the communities they serve, and we look forward to supporting Surgical Institute Dublin on the next stage of its journey.”
AIB Business Banking provides finance and practical support to Irish businesses at different stages of growth, from working capital needs to larger investment projects, she adds.
“AIB Business Banking is nationwide, combining local relationship management with sector expertise, providing businesses with access to specialist teams that understand the opportunities and challenges facing individual industries. Our approach is centred on long-term relationships, working closely with business owners and management teams to support investment, job creation, innovation and regional economic development across Ireland. We work with businesses of all sizes across Ireland, providing the funding, expertise and support they need to invest, grow, create jobs and contribute to thriving local communities.”
Businesses across every major sector of the Irish economy including healthcare, food and beverage, hospitality, technology, manufacturing, agriculture, life sciences, professional services and real estate are served, she continues.
“In healthcare, AIB supports businesses investing in new facilities, equipment, specialist capacity, jobs and improved access to services,” says Bryce. “AIB has dedicated sector and relationship management teams who understand the financial needs of healthcare SMEs, corporates and plcs, and can support customers through investment, expansion and operational growth. Our healthcare portfolio spans medical professionals, primary care, home care, residential care, hospitals, medical suppliers and other healthcare service providers.”
