One nursing home had just one staff nurse on duty for 44 residents on one weekend, while there was "inadequate oversight" at another nursing home where had been recent legionella contamination of the water supply.

Completion dates on approved upgrade works on five community hospitals across West Cork have been pushed out by up to three years, it has emerged.

Cork University Hospital has been forced to move patients to other hospitals in the region because of pressure on its resources due to overcrowding.

Supporters of Midleton Community Hospital which has lost 14 of its 66 beds, are to write to the James Reilly, the health minister, inviting him to visit the facility.

A year-long campaign to save 16 beds at a West Cork hospital has failed — the beds will close within weeks, it has emerged.

THE Health Minister said there is “room for compromise” in a continuing battle between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and campaigners over bed closures at a West Cork hospital.

THE Department of Health has given a commitment to review a HSE decision to close 16 beds at a Co Cork community hospital.

BED closures at a West Cork community hospital are necessary to meet fire safety standards, otherwise the hospital would fail a mandatory registration process, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has claimed.

CONCERN is mounting that the HSE is planning to close even more nursing home beds in a west Cork hospital.

ELDERLY residents at Clonakilty Community Hospital have been told to pack up their belongings and move from their long-stay rooms as the HSE plans to close eight beds.

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) was yesterday accused of making stealth cutbacks with the closure of beds at a community hospital in west Cork.