Labour condemns cancellation of operations

THE Government’s failure to deliver sufficient hospital beds has led to thousands of operations being postponed and patients suffering needlessly, the Labour Party said last night.

The party was speaking after new figures revealed 21,974 operations were postponed by 34 hospitals across the State last year, principally because of a shortage of beds.

Labour deputy leader Liz McManus said the Government and the Health Service Executive (HSE) had to take immediate action to rectify the problem.