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.

Deputy Kathleen Lynch yesterday claimed she was contacted by clinic patients who said they had been told cutbacks had forced the clinic to close next week.

“The Health Service Executive (HSE) is refusing to pay for holiday staff coverage and as a result the clinic will not be seeing patients next week,” the Labour TD said.

However, the hospital’s chief executive Pat Madden said the claims were simply not true. The clinic would continue to operate as normal, he said.

“Consultants are trying to arrange for junior doctors to take annual leave. But the clinic will be held next week,” he said.