Anger as opening of community hospital delayed

A €16.4 MILLION community hospital in Dingle will not open on Tuesday as planned because the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is not satisfied with facilities there.

The shock HSE announcement that the opening would be delayed yet again provoked angry reaction yesterday.

The first-phase transfer of 43 residents from the existing St Elizabeth’s Hospital, due to take place on Tuesday, will not be going ahead because the necessary HIQA registration process for residential care services for older people is not completed in the facility.