Martin should resign over bed closures, says McManus

HEALTH Minister Micheál Martin should resign over the latest round of hospital bed closures, the Labour Party said yesterday.

Health spokeswoman Liz McManus said she had "bitten her tongue long enough". "Micheál Martin has been in the Department of Health for three years now and he's no new kid around the block. I feel it's time for him to go. It can't be tolerated that patients are being forced to bear responsibility for the cuts in frontline service. We need someone with a fresh approach," she said.

More than 250 beds are to close as hospitals struggle to rein in budget shortfalls. The hospitals affected St James's, St Vincent's, Tallaght, the Mater and Beaumont are all in Dublin.