Laundry closure sign of ‘hospital downgrade’

HEALTH campaigners have condemned plans to close a hospital laundry, describing it as another step towards the downgrading of a city hospital.

They said the closure of the facility at Cork’s St Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital, coupled with plans to transfer its orthopaedic surgery functions, confirms the HSE wants to downgrade the entire hospital.

The laundry, which employs 23 people, is due to close before the end of January.