Surgical Institute Dublin Opening in July 2026

As featured in this weekend’s The Sunday Times, Institute of Dermatologists founders Professor Caitriona Ryan and Professor Nicola Ralph, together with healthcare entrepreneur Conor Murphy, are opening Surgical Institute Dublin this July. As Ireland’s first large-scale consultant partnership model focused on advanced dermatological surgery and minor procedures, the Surgical Institute Dublin will be based in Ballsbridge, Dublin and represents a new model of specialist skin care in this country.

Dermatology is one of the longest waiting lists in the Irish healthcare system, and access to truly specialist surgical care has remained a significant gap. Surgical Institute Dublin was created to address that directly, with a clinician-led model that keeps decision-making in the hands of consultants rather than external investors, and allows patients to be assessed and treated in a timely manner in the same setting.

The centre also plans to collaborate with the public sector to help reduce waiting times, providing support to overburdened services.

The purpose-built facility will bring together more than 30 specialist consultants across dermatology, Mohs surgery, plastic surgery, oculoplastics, pathology, and medical oncology, with 20 leading consultants having invested in the equity raise. It will feature four minor procedure theatres, a dedicated Mohs laboratory, a recovery area, a nurse admission suite, and consulting rooms designed for ‘See-and-Treat’ and surgical dressing clinics. Mole mapping and patch testing services will follow later in the year.

Mohs micrographic surgery, the gold standard treatment for skin cancer, will be a cornerstone of the centre’s offering and represents the only private Mohs capacity currently available in Dublin.

Following a €4.7 million fundraise, agreements are already in place with Vhi and Irish Life Health, giving access to more than 70% of Ireland’s insured population, with Laya Healthcare and Level Health in active discussions ahead of opening. Surgical Institute Dublin anticipates creating 25 jobs initially, scaling to 50 within two years.

Conor Murphy, CEO of Surgical Institute Dublin, said: “Surgical Institute Dublin is committed to delivering excellence in advanced dermatological surgery and minor procedures in the right setting. Our centre brings together Dublin’s leading consultant dermatologists, plastic surgeons, oculoplastic surgeons, pathologists and medical oncologists under one roof, working collaboratively to provide truly integrated, specialist care. By focusing on advanced ambulatory surgery, we are addressing the inefficiencies of traditional inpatient hospital environments while significantly expanding access to high quality, consultant-delivered surgical services. In addition to offering gold standard Mohs micrographic surgery, the only private capacity currently available in Dublin, Surgical Institute Dublin will provide comprehensive skin cancer management, complex dermatological surgery, ‘See-and-Treat’ pathways and direct access clinics, strengthening Ireland’s overall surgical capacity and ensuring patients receive the highest standard of multidisciplinary care.”

 

Professor Caitriona Ryan said:

“As dermatologists, we have witnessed firsthand the growing gap between demand and access to truly specialist skin cancer and dermatological surgery care. Surgical Institute Dublin was created to close that gap. Our vision is to build a centre of excellence where consultant-led, multidisciplinary expertise drives every decision, where innovation is embraced responsibly, and where patients receive timely, outcome-focused care in a setting designed specifically for complex skin surgery.”

 

Professor Nicola Ralph added: “This partnership model ensures that clinical expertise drives decision-making, free from external investor pressures. When consultants are directly involved in shaping both the clinical and operational direction of a centre, it leads to better patient outcomes, stronger collaboration, and a more sustainable model of care.”

Insurance Partner Recognition

Mark Byrne, Director of Healthcare Partnerships at Vhi, said: “As Ireland’s largest health insurer with over 1.2 million members, Vhi is pleased to partner with Surgical Institute Dublin who are committed to providing access to high quality, consultant-led care for our members focused on advanced dermatological surgery and minor procedures. This new state-of-the-art facility will provide much needed additional capacity and will provide our members with a broader range of options ensuring they get faster access to expert care delivered efficiently.”

Ann Marie Nestor, Managing Director at Irish Life Health, added: “We are delighted to partner with Surgical Institute Dublin to further expand the range of high-quality care available to our members. As Ireland’s first consultant-led centre of excellence for advanced dermatological surgery and minor surgical procedures, this state-of-the-art facility will offer members on selected plans specialist dermatological care in a modern, efficient setting. Securing access to this first-of-its-kind centre for Irish Life Health members reflects our ongoing commitment to giving customers the widest possible access to leading healthcare providers and innovative models of care across Ireland.”

For further information about Surgical Institute Dublin, visit surgicalinstitute.ie

Photo credit: Bryan Meade