Minister to meet doctors over unit

MENTAL Health Minister Kathleen Lynch is to meet consultant psychiatrists from the south-east to discuss the HSE’s planned closure of a 49-bed acute unit.

The meeting takes place on Wednesday when consultants concerned about the plans to close St Michael’s psychiatric unit in Clonmel next spring, will ask Ms Lynch to approve an “interim suspension” of the plans.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny met a delegation of doctors and public representatives in Clonmel last week and heard a presentation on the recent development of South Tipperary General Hospital, described as “its evolution into one of the busiest and most innovative centres of its kind,” by the Clonmel-based Save Our Hospital Action committee.