Fear and anger over threat to hospital

WHETHER real or perceived, the threat to Mallow General Hospital on foot of an investigation into standards of care announced this week is causing anger and fear in the Co Cork town and its surrounding rural population.

If this really is the first step to downgrading the hospital, nobody knows, but local people are nonetheless convinced it is.

Yesterday afternoon, Mallow General, set regally on a hill overlooking the countryside below, appears packed to capacity.