Mallow hospital gets €1.5m funding

PLANS to build a new medical assessment unit and an endoscopy unit at Mallow General Hospital have been copper fastened by the allocation of €1.5 million in funding for the project, according to Junior Minister Seán Sherlock.

The new units, for which a planning application has already been lodged, will mean an eventual end to the hospital’s 24-hour emergency department service, which was due to close last month.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) was forced to postpone the closure because alternative services, including a 12-hour urgent care centre, are not in place.