HOSPITALS will be barred from appointing any junior doctor agency workers from nextMonday, after senior HSE officials privately conceded plans to cut the short-term staff cost are failing.

HOSPITALS will forfeit a slice of their annual funding for failing to tackle the A&E crisis and to maintain acceptable hygiene standards, it was learned yesterday.

HOSPITALS will have to qualify for an annual hygiene certificate under a new quality control system beginning in the new year.

HOSPITALS have been advised by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service that it is in a position to meet demand for blood.

HOSPITALS have been asked to cancel all pre-planned surgery for the next four to five days due to a severe decline in blood donations.

HOSPITALS in Cork and Kerry have been forced to cut services this summer to keep within budget.

HOSPITALS penalised for bad management and keeping patients in beds for too long have defended work practices and criticised the carrot and stick approach adopted by the Department of Health.

HOSPITALS found guilty of bad management and keeping patients in beds too long have been hit with fines totalling €6.4 million.

HOSPITALS may face criminal prosecution in the organ retention scandal for suspected breaches of legislation governing post mortem procedures and death registrations.

MONAGHAN people demanding the full restoration of services to their local hospital brought their protest to the Taoiseach’s door yesterday.