Other hospitals suffered brunt of cuts
KANTURK Community Hospital did not experience the brunt of the cuts at the HSE Forum Regional meeting last Thursday, where it was announced eight beds at the 48 bed facility would no longer be used.
The lion's share of the cuts fell on Midleton Community Hospital, where 14 beds will close. In addition, St Francis Welfare Home in Fermoy will also close its doors and its 10 beds will be relocated to Fermoy Community Hospital, which will ensure no bed closures in Fermoy Community Hospital.
In addition in the southern region, Clonakility Community Hospital will lose 16 beds. It was pointed out that 16 beds are currently vacant at the hospital and it is intended that these beds would close permanently in 2012.
At the meeting on Thursday, Cllr Timmy Collins (Ind) said, in relation to Kanturk Community Hospital: "The longest journey starts with the first step — could a downgrade lead to closure?."
In response, Mr Reaney said there would be no staff or redundancies at Kanturk Community Hospital, and the eight beds were not in use during 2011.
Cllr Pat Burton (FG) said: "What we are now all having to do is pick up a flawed plan which was put up by an unrealistic sense of money."
However, he said that he had concerns with the loss of 35 beds at Cork University Hospital and the impact it would have on waiting lists.
- MARIA HERLIHY
