Mater may use nearby military hospital

THE Mater Hospital in Dublin says it is “extremely interested” in a plan to use empty beds in a nearby military hospital to alleviate overcrowding in its accident and emergency department.

The possibility of using St Bricin’s Military Hospital, which is about 3km from the Mater and has up to 100 beds available, is being urgently assessed by the major acute city hospital and the local health authority.

Soldiers’ representative group, PDFORRA, have no objection in principle to the plan but insist that their members continue to have access to free medical care.