Planned cuts at Bantry Hospital ‘deplorable’

THE HSE is set to take a scalpel to Bantry General Hospital in a cost-cutting exercise that could see jobs and bed numbers reduced along with the axing of 24-hour surgical services.

A HSE spokesman admitted yesterday talks are continuing with staff to prevent a projected overrun of e1 million in running costs this year.

The HSE response came after a former mayor of Co Cork said he had become aware of a series of planned measures which he described as “deplorable”.