O’Reilly drops into CUH following concerns over cancelled surgeries

Health Minister James Reilly made an unscheduled stop at Cork University Hospital yesterday in an attempt to address concerns over a catalogue of cancelled surgeries last week.

As revealed by the Irish Examiner last Saturday, more than 100 elective surgeries were cancelled at CUH within the past fortnight due to the significant pressure on the hospital as a result of wider service changes.

Among the specialities affected were orthopaedics, cardiac, and cancer.

The HSE South has said the issue, which was raised in the Dáil by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin on Wednesday, has been addressed.

However, Dr Reilly organised the unexpected meeting with hospital management while attending separate matters in the city.

Speaking to reporters after confirming the meeting, he said: “I expect them to take action in a flexible fashion to reflect the reality on the ground at the moment. Later in the year we’ll have much more capacity and we’ll be able to catch up.”

He added that 46 more hospital beds are due to become available at the hospital over the coming months, a move which is likely to reduced the pressure the facility is currently under.

However, Mr Martin said last night that difficulties remained: “Emails have been sent to wards telling staff to cancel elective surgery in cardiac, orthopaedic and neuro-surgery cases.

“Shockingly, surgery for cancer patients is also being postponed, which is a terrible indictment of Minster Reilly’s handling of the health service. I have also been informed that three wards in CUH have closed in recent weeks.

“This is no way for a health service to be run, yet the Government continues to ignore these problems,” said Mr Martin, who was health minister when the HSE was set up in 2004.