Hospital A&E could close indefinitely

ALL accident and emergency patients could be diverted from their local hospital in Drogheda to two alternative units 20 miles away as nurses in the A&E unit protest over staff numbers and working conditions.

The A&E department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda could close indefinitely from the end of this week, the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) last night warned.

The threat came after a work-to-rule which began at the unit yesterday and a lunchtime protest which left 40 accident and emergency patients without their usual nursing care.