THE VISION of Michael Cullen and his business partners was, and is, to help combat the serious deficiencies in Irish healthcare services by dynamic action.
The Beacon Medical Group was founded in 2002 and the company's first foray into the healthcare market involved the development of the Beacon Medical Campus that year, which included Beacon Renal, suites of consultant clinics and Beacon Dermatology.
Four years later they opened their flagship hospital, Beacon Hospital in Sandyford. In six years, the company will have committed over €1.2 billion to world-class healthcare facilities and services here.
The group recently won Government-issued tenders to build and operate colocated hospitals on the sites of Beaumont, Mid-West Regional Limerick and Cork University Hospitals, which will release back into the public system 520 inpatient beds.
These hospitals will mirror the case-mix of the public hospitals in that they will be full service general hospitals.
The overall project involves an investment of €784 million.
When all hospitals are fully operational, they will directly employ 1,500 people and a further 2,340 indirectly. Up to 1,200 jobs will be created during the three-year development phase.
Additionally, the group is developing plans for the construction of the €160 million women, children's and maternity hospital in Sandyford and has been shortlisted in the tender for the Tallaght hospital colocation project.
Customer:
Every person (either publicly or privately insured) in the State is a potential customer of Beacon Medical Group's facilities.
Other customers include health insurance providers and the Government, through the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund. The group is currently exploring additional opportunities in Northern Ireland, Britain and the Middle East.
Product/Service:
Beacon Medical Group develops and operates world class, state- of-the-art inpatient and outpatient healthcare facilities.
The Beacon Medical Campus comprises Beacon Hospital, Beacon Renal, Beacon Dermatology, Beacon Consultants Clinic and Beacon Consultants Concourse.
At the heart of the Beacon Medical Campus is the world class 183-bed, eight-theatre Beacon Hospital, which is one of the most technologically advanced hospitals in Europe.
Key services provided by the hospital include: the comprehensive Beacon Cancer Centre, the first emergency department in an independent hospital in Ireland; an extensive cardiac care unit; and a diagnostic centre with all 12 modalities of radiology under one roof.
The Beacon Medical Campus also houses specialist centres in eye laser treatment, dentistry and weight-loss as well as The Irish Maternal Foetal Foundation and a pharmacy.
Q&A: Michael Cullen
What is your biggest business achievement?
Overcoming substantial initial odds to, within four years, get Beacon Hospital successfully operational.
Getting the first facility off the ground was hardest - now the company is established and has built a good reputation, it's easier to get new projects off the ground.
Express the biggest challenge you see your industry facing?
One of the biggest challenges we face as a country is how to care for a growing and aging population - the over-60s population doubling from 600,000 to 1,250,000 in the next 12 years.
The healthcare sector has historically been under-funded and lacking in infrastructure. The industry needs to change exponentially in order to alleviate the current crisis and become sufficiently resourced to cope with increased demand over the next 25 years.
