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.

But when Dr Reilly became minister, he ordered a review that last week gave the relocation the go-ahead.

Protesters yesterday accused Fine Gael of breaking election promises.

Northside Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien accused Mr Murphy of “misleading” the people of Cork’s northside and he called on him to apologise.

He also said he has written to Dr Reilly calling on him to publish the review.

“I want to know who was involved and how they came to this conclusion.”

But responding to a parliamentary question tabled by Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelliher, the minister said: “I have now reflected and considered the matter and it is my view that, on balance, the move of orthopaedic services should go ahead as planned.”

He has always been committed to retaining and developing health services on the site, he said, including an Urgent Care Centre, which operate 12 hours a day to treat the so-called “walking wounded”, and outpatient services linked to the Mercy University Hospital.

And he said he has also asked the HSE to examine the potential for a primary health centre on the site.

Mr Murphy said: “This statement by Dr Reilly unambiguously clarifies any concerns people may have had about the future of the site of St Mary’s and the long-term plans for its future.”

The HSE announced the relocation of orthopaedic services, including elective in-patient, rehabilitation trauma and day surgery, from St Mary’s to SIVUH in May last year.

A HSE spokesman said the transfer is on schedule.

Building work should be complete by September, with wards ready the following month. The elective orthopaedic services will then be transferred.

While some St Mary’s staff are taking voluntary redundancy, most will be re-deployed.