A&E units disastrous, says Ahern

PATIENTS in hospitals find A&E units to be disastrous, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern acknowledged yesterday.

However, Mr Ahern did not give a commitment to provide the funding required to open up the €450 million worth of new hospital facilities lying idle.

Coming under sustained questioning from opposition party leaders, the Taoiseach said it was a fact there were particular problems in accident and emergency departments and this was where the main focus now lay.