Hospitals get E85m boost for staff and equipment

ALMOST E85 million is to be spent on equipping and staffing new hospital facilities around the country — some of which have been lying idle for months.

Health Minister Micheál Martin said a cap on public sector appointments in health was being lifted to allow the appointment of 1,200 nurses, doctors and other staff members needed to run the units.

The units would be operational as soon as the necessary equipment and staff became available in some cases that would be a matter of two or three months.