Hospital facing bed closures as staff retire

YOUGHAL Community Hospital faces bed closures in the coming months, due to a reduction in its 2012 budget and an embargo on staff recruitment.

Three staff members due to retire next month will not be replaced.

This will bring to six the number of non-replaced staff retirements in the last year, inevitability leading to a loss of beds.

The cutbacks fall under the terms of the National Service Plan.

The number of bed closures is uncertain and the hospital was unable to comment.

Cllr Barbara Murray, representing Cork County Council on the Primary and Community Care Committee of HSE South, says “there is talk of eight beds being closed, but nothing is set in stone as yet.”

The hospital currently manages 38 beds, including 30 continuing care, four respite, two convalescent and two hospice units.