Fears beds for elderly to close

Fears have been expressed in West Cork that the HSE and the health minister may not upgrade community hospitals in the region, leading to elderly patients being transferred miles away from their families.

Cork County Council plans to express concerns to Health Minister Leo Varadkar and the HSE that St Joseph’s Ward in Bantry General Hospital and Castletownbere Community Hospital may be closed as they do not meet watchdog Hiqa’s standards.

Councillor Declan Hurley (Ind) said Hiqa had given a July deadline to upgrade the facilities. “They are among around 80 places facing closure around country if they are not brought up to standard. The public are entitled to know what the HSE is planning to do, especially as we have an increasing elderly population.”