AN orthopaedic surgeon has claimed he will only be able to operate “once or twice more” this year at Merlin Park Hospital in Galway because of plans to suspend all orthopaedic surgery for four months.

ORTHOPAEDIC consultants in Galway last night expressed fear of proposals by the HSE West to suspend all elective surgery at Merlin Park Hospital from September until the end of the year. They say as many as 1,000 patients could be affected.

THE crisis in the health service deepened last night with revelations that more than 41,000 patients are on waiting lists at a time when health service employers have banned staff recruitment.

THE opening of a €10.5 million, orthopaedic unit in Castlebar due to employ 78 people has been cancelled by the Western Health Board just three weeks before it was scheduled to open.