Stroke unit opens at Cork’s largest hospital, three years late

After a series of false starts, a stroke unit at Cork’s biggest hospital is now to begin seeing patients in the New Year — nearly three years after its original opening date.

Under the National Stroke Programme, 28 dedicated stroke units were to be opened in acute hospitals around the country. All of the promised units are now operating, except for the Cork University Hospital unit.

Áine Carroll, HSE national director of clinical strategy and programmes, told the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee in May that the unit would open in June. That date was later pushed back to September. Now it is slated for January or February.