HSE rules out hospital closures

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has stressed that it won’t close any hospitals in Cork or Kerry under a forthcoming reconfiguration, but says there will be fundamental changes to the services the hospitals offer.

HSE officials briefed TDs and senators in Leinster House yesterday on the planned reconfiguration of hospital services in the south. A consultation process on the proposed reconfiguration is currently taking place, and will run until June, when the HSE is scheduled to finally publish a heavily-delayed review into acute hospital services in the south, known as the Wrixon Report.

Separately, the HSE has commissioned a review of emergency services in the south which will be conducted over the next 10 weeks. Detailed planning on the reconfiguration will take place from June to September, with a view to implementing it towards the end of the year.