Reilly ‘cannot force’ VHI to provide cover for private hospital

IT would be a “terrible tragedy” if the country’s newest private hospital was forced to close but it was not in his gift to instruct the VHI to provide cover, Health Minister James Reilly said yesterday.

Commenting on the €90 million Cork Medical Centre (CMC) where staff contracts have been temporarily suspended following the VHI’s refusal to come on board, Dr Reilly said the health insurer was insisting it had enough private beds in the region.

“I’ve met with the VHI and they are insistent that they feel they have elegant sufficiency of private beds in the area,” he said.