Anger over ward closure

The HSE is being asked to guarantee that a ward closure in a community hospital in north Cork will be temporary and not permanent, as some county councillors fear.

Standing orders were suspended at a meeting in County Hall when Cllr Deirdre O’Brien raised the ward closure at Fermoy Community Hospital. She said the HSE had confirmed it will shortly close a 12-bed ward because of staff shortages.

“But we have reason to believe it could be long-term and want to take immediate action to stop that happening,” she told colleagues.