Assessment units ‘will put hospital trolleys into skip’

THE head of the HSE South’s controversial hospital reconfiguration plan has claimed new medical assessment units (MAUs) at all facilities will make hospital trolleys obsolete.

Speaking at the latest HSE South regional health forum meeting, Professor John Higgins said the move could potentially lead to significant reductions in emergency department waiting times.

According to the senior health official, who has been heavily criticised by patient groups over plans to remove services from the region’s six acute hospitals, the new MAUs will play a key role in the future development of services in Cork and Kerry.