Hospital clinic will stay open

MANAGERS at Cork’s Mercy Hospital yesterday denied claims its busy warfarin clinic was to close next week.

Every Friday, staff at the clinic treat up to 600 mostly elderly patients at risk of strokes or heart attacks. Blood tests are taken to ensure that the levels of their warfarin, or blood thinning medication, are as they should be.

In some cases, patients are contacted for follow-up appointments to adjust the medication.