Martin to postpone closure of hospital beds

HEALTH Minister Micheál Martin has promised a 10-day stay on the closure of hospital beds in an effort to appease angry healthcare unions.

The stay follows threats of industrial action by the unions if members’ jobs were jeopardised as a result of the bed closures.

Mr Martin gave the guarantee yesterday at a meeting chaired by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and attended by IMPACT and the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO).