Mater Private Network Cork officially opens its Heart Centre facility following €12 million investment

Mater Private Network Cork announced the official opening of its Cork Heart Centre, marking a significant milestone in the development of cardiac care services in the Munster region. The €12 million investment includes the expansion and extended opening hours of Urgent Cardiac Care services, and the introduction of a new ICU and Cardiothoracic Surgical service.

The Cork Heart Centre focuses on delivering excellence by enhancing the capacity to diagnose and treat both routine and complex cardiac conditions. This reflects Mater Private Network’s commitment to providing specialist, patient-centred care in a state-of-the-art environment.

As part of this development, the new Cardiothoracic Surgery service offers local access to advanced procedures, supported by a multidisciplinary team and a new intensive care unit. This complements the Centre’s comprehensive cardiac care pathway — including diagnostics, surgery, and rehabilitation — ensuring high-quality treatment and recovery for patients, close to home. 

Patients also benefit from the established Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme, designed to support long-term heart health through education, exercise, and lifestyle management, ultimately improving both patient experience and clinical outcomes.

John Hurley CEO of Mater Private Network Group said: "The launch of the Cork Heart Centre is a landmark moment not only for Mater Private Cork, but for cardiac care across Munster. Our investment in this facility ensures that patients have access to the highest standard of cardiac diagnostics and treatment, delivered by an expert multidisciplinary team in a centre of excellence. 

“For over 40 years, Mater Private Network has led the way in delivering complex cardiac care in Dublin. We are proud to bring this depth of expertise to the Munster region. We are confident that patients treated at the Heart Centre in Cork will benefit from the same clinical excellence, patient-focused care, and outcomes that have made us a national leader in cardiac services.”

The Heart Centre is led by Dr. John P. Foran, with Cardiothoracic Surgery directed by Dr. Niamh Keenan. Both are committed to advancing cardiac care and driving transformative change in heart health across Ireland.

In addition to expanding the scale of cardiac-focused facilities, the Heart Centre brings together an expert team of cardiologists and surgeons with subspecialty expertise under one roof, improving access to specialists, speeding up diagnosis, and providing expert treatment to optimise patient outcomes. This integration reflects Mater Private Network’s strategy to deliver excellence through operational simplicity. 

Dr John P. Foran, Clinical Lead and Head of the Department of Cardiology at Mater Private Cork, said: “The opening of the Cork Heart Centre is a major step forward for cardiac care in the region. Having these facilities available locally means that patients in Munster can now access the highest level of cardiac diagnostics and treatment without the need to travel further afield. This investment will allow us to treat more patients, more quickly, and deliver life-saving interventions closer to home.” 

The launch of the Cork Heart Centre was marked by a panel discussion held today at Mater Private Network Cork, focusing on the future of cardiovascular health in the Munster region. Experts from the Mater Private Network Heart & Vascular team, the first patient to undergo Cardiothoracic Surgery at MPC Mr. John Daly, and special guest Sonia O’Sullivan discussed the importance of lifelong health and cardiac awareness. 

The event highlighted the Heart Centre’s new capabilities, including advanced Cardiothoracic Surgery and expanded urgent care services, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and excellence in cardiac care, and bringing the expertise of Mater Private National Tertiary Cardiac Centre to Cork.

The Cork Heart Centre is part of Mater Private Network’s broader programme of investment and digital transformation aimed at advancing healthcare delivery nationwide.