Hospital report ‘deliberately delayed’ until after vote

THE Government is “deliberately delaying” publication of a report into the future of Bantry General Hospital until after the local elections – “to save Fianna Fáil party blushes and FF county council seats”.

Former mayor of County Cork, Cllr John O’Shea has claimed the timing was significant.

With fears of west Cork’s only acute hospital being downgraded, the report is not being released publicly until June 9 – four days after the election.

“This is a scurrilous decision by the Government, in consort with the HSE, to deliberately withhold information regarding the inability of the Government, through the HSE, to fund 24-hour acute services in Cork and Kerry hospitals,” Mr O’Shea said.

The Team Work Report on the future of acute services in Cork and Kerry Hospitals to be published on June 9 will focus on Bantry General Hospital, Mallow General Hospital, Mercy University Hospital and Kerry General Hospital.

Thousands of people have attended rallies in west Cork in the past few weeks to highlight their anger at the likely downgrading of services at Bantry, including Mr O’Shea, who is one of the leading lights in the campaign to preserve its status.

He recently attended a meeting with a representative from the HSE to discuss the potential impact on the hospital’s services.

“In particular I am concerned because I could not be guaranteed that Bantry will have 24-hour surgical cover, 24-hour ICU, or that it will have a 24-hour casualty service by the end of the year.

“I am fearful that the axe will fall with a vengeance on June 9,” the Fine Gael councillor said.

Gerry O’Dwyer, network manager for the Southern Hospitals’ Group, said a review group had been set up to look specifically at the emergency departments in all hospitals in the Cork and& Kerry region.

“This group will undertake its work within a 10-week timeframe and the outcome of this report will inform decisions in how both emergency department services and surgery will be delivered in Bantry General Hospital going forward,” Mr O’Dwyer said.

He said he wanted to reiterate that no hospitals will close in the region, but couldn’t say what services would be cut.

“All hospitals will fundamentally change how and what services they will deliver in the future and across the region,” Mr O’Dwyer said.