Pressure on CUH as South Infirmary A&E set to close

October 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BIlly Kelleher

FIANNA Fáil Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher has called on the HSE and the Minister for Health to outline their plans to prevent an overcrowding crisis at Cork University Hospital and the Mercy Hospital, in the wake of the closure of the South Victoria Infirmary Hospital’s Emergency Department.

Deputy Kelleher said, “It is deeply disappointing to learn from media reports today that the South Infirmary Victoria Hospital will shut down in six months.

“It raises real concerns about the impact on CUH and the Mercy Hospital, which are already under serious strain at this time.

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A&E plan is a wasteful disaster waiting to happen

November 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

mercy_hospital1THE news that Cork University Hospital (CUH) will retain the only full accident & emergency department in the county under a new plan published this week wastes existing resources and will put excessive pressure on the already over-stretched CUH emergency department according to local Fine Gael TD, Bernard Allen.

A&E services will be retained at CUH but the Mercy and South Infirmary Hospitals will no longer maintain full A&E departments. They are set to be replaced by medical assessment and admissions units (MAAUs).

“As far as I can tell, these MAAUs are basically glorified referral clinics from where patients will be sent on to the under-staffed, overcrowded CUH A&E anyway. This is being dressed up as innovation and progress when in fact it is widow dressing for cuts,” said the Pubic Accounts Committee Chairman.

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Mercy plans come in for criticism

August 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment
mercy_hospital1

mercy_hospital1SOCIALIST Party councillor Mick Barry this morning criticised proposals by the Mercy Hospital to move towards a part-time A&E by shutting its doors at 10pm.

Cllr Barry said that any move by the Mercy to close its A&E for 10 hours a day would significantly worsen health services in the city for local people.

He said that instead of turning CUH into a “centre of excellence” it would turn that hospital into a “centre of trolleys, overcrowding and chaos”.

Cllr Barry also said that the Mercy’s part-time A&E proposal was the hospital’s “opening offer” in a negotiations process with a HSE hell-bent on reconfiguration and the downgrading of A&E services in the city and expressed concern that the final proposal for A&E services at the Mercy could be even worse than the proposal made in yesterday’s report.

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Health system requires a “radical” approach

May 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Patricia Gosch
Patricia Gosch

Patricia Gosch

RADICAL new thinking is required is an effective system of public healthcare is to be delivered in Ireland, according to Cork Deputy Lord Mayor and local election candidate Cllr Patricia Gosch.

Cllr Gosch who is standing in the Cork North Central ward said that after almost 20 years of continuous power which included the Celtic Tiger boom it was clear that Fianna Fáil did not have the necessary answers to the questions facing the Irish health system.

Cllr Gosch said, “Our health services are currently rated 24th in Europe in terms of value for money and the only action being taken by the Government is slashing budgets with no sign of the reforms that are badly needed.

“You only have to look around Cork to see how badly the system is failing. A new A&E at the Mercy lay idle for months while patients waited on trolleys and now that it is finally open we find it may yet be closed in the future.
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