Setback for hospital co-location plan as oral hearing ordered

PLANS for one of the state’s biggest co-located hospitals suffered a setback last night.

An Bord Pleanála confirmed that it plans to arrange an oral hearing into the Beacon Medical Group’s (BMG) proposal to build a €250 million 185-bed hospital on the grounds of Cork University Hospital (CUH).

The decision could delay the project by up to a year. The planning appeals board has already deferred a decision on the project, due yesterday, back to November 26.