THE Government is “deliberately delaying” publication of a report into the future of Bantry General Hospital until after the local elections – “to save Fianna Fáil party blushes and FF county council seats”.

A SENIOR Health Service Executive official has admitted he was “flabbergasted” by the discovery of thousands of patients’ medical notes dumped at a disused landfill and confirmed further excavations are being carried out in the area to see if there are more.

A U-TURN is on the cards as the Health Service Executive plans to open, on a 24-hour basis in July, a €5 million A&E at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork.