TDs to meet Vhi over hospital impasse
“The request has gone in and we hope to explore how this impasse can be resolved,” Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath said.
Several Oireachtas members met executives of Sheehan Medical, the developers of the €90 million Cork Medical Centre (CMC) on Thursday.
The meeting was called after Sheehan Medical placed CMC’s 75 staff on a month’s protective notice because of the Vhi’s decision not to provide cover at the facility.
Quinn Healthcare and Aviva have already agreed to provide cover at the hospital which opened last October.
Sheehan Medical’s chief executive Dr Joe Sheehan has warned the hospital will be forced to close within months unless the Vhi changes its mind.
He has also said 300 potential jobs are on the line.
Mr McGrath, who spoke to Vhi boss, Jimmy Tolan yesterday, said the meeting between the TDs and the VHI will be crucial.
“Sheehan Medical has invested €90m in this facility and over 70 jobs are directly dependent on it, with more associated with the project over the coming years,” he said.
“We want to see the Vhi cover extended to this facility.
“While the Vhi have their own constraints, given the level of investment and the amount of jobs on the line, it is in all of our interests to explore how this impasse can be resolved.”
Labour TD Ciarán Lynch said he hopes that the negotiations will be concluded successfully.
Sheehan Medical has disputed the Vhi’s claim that there is excess capacity in the private hospital marketplace.
The Vhi has also said that any proposals it has received from CMC “have not demonstrated any meaningful savings or any innovation in terms of medical services for our customers”.
