Military option ruled out

Seán McCarthaigh

An official report on the potential of St Bricin’s to act as a short-term treatment facility for accident and emergency patients is expected to rule it out as a viable option.

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea made the offer of making St Bricin’s Hospital available to alleviate overcrowding at A&E units in other hospitals around the city earlier this week.

Around 100 patients can be accommodated at the military hospital, although a majority of the beds are normally not in use.

It is understood that a team of health inspectors sent to assess St Bricin’s has also ruled out its suitability as a step-down facility without a major upgrading of wards at the hospital.

Sources indicate St Bricin’s lacks many basic general hospital facilities, such as bed screens and oxygen taps.

The Department of Health said it was awaiting an official report from its inspectors who visited the hospital this week.

A spokesperson for the Department of the Defence declined to comment.