Downgrading Waterford’s hospital ‘will cost lives’

Plans to downgrade services at one of the country’s busiest regional hospitals have been called “reckless”.

Following reports that an expert group is to recommend the break-up of the South-East Hospital Network, with some services moving from Waterford Regional Hospital to Cork, Sinn Féin senator David Cullinane yesterday said such a move “will cost lives”.

The move is said to be part of a recommendation made to Health Minister James Reilly by a group chaired by John Higgins of UCC.