Operating theatre closures ‘widespread’

HOSPITAL theatre closures are not just confined to one of the country’s busiest hospitals, they are “widespread” and patients will suffer, Fine Gael has warned.

The party has claimed that Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, Dublin, was forced to cancel all non-emergency work until the end of September.

A confidential memo seen by Fine Gael’s Dr Leo Varadkar reveals the hospital is heading for a budget overrun of €3 million and has been forced to make the cutback as part of the Health Service Executive’s “Break-Even Plan 2008”.