Minister pledges ‘urgent care centre’ for hospital

HEALTH Minister James Reilly pledged last night to develop an accident and emergency-type unit at a Cork hospital that campaigners had feared would close.

Dr Reilly made the announcement in the Dáil just hours after a protest at the gates of St Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital in Gurranabraher over the planned transfer of its orthopaedic services to the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) later this year.

Protesters who claim the relocation will lead to the hospital’s closure held placards criticising Fine Gael TD, Dara Murphy, who promised before the general election that if returned to power, Fine Gael would halt the transfer.