Doctors reject 6-month stay on surgery

A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to put a six-month stay on elective surgery at a children’s hospital is unlikely to go ahead after doctors rejected the cost-cutting plan.

The proposal was one of a number of money-saving measures tabled by management at Temple St Children’s University Hospital last week, according to consultant ophthalmologist Professor Michael O’Keefe.

The eye specialist said he understood the hospital had a projected deficit in excess of €5 million and had been instructed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to reduce the overrun.