Hospital scandal: €460m facilities idle

THERE are at least €460 million worth of hospital facilities lying idle across the country because the Government has failed to provide funding to open them.

No additional money is to be made available, ending speculation that the Government was preparing to go on a spending spree ahead of Friday's elections.

The facilities include new hospital wings, units, theatres and beds. They cannot be commissioned because the money is not there either to fit them out or hire the necessary staff.