Hospitals to close beds due to budget deficit

Dublin's five main training hospitals - the Mater, Beaumont, St Vincent's, St James's and Tallaght - are expected to announce further bed closures today due to a €100m budget deficit.

The chief executives of the five hospitals are due to issue a statement saying they need to close 250 beds, reduce surgical and medical procedures by 14,000 and lay off temporary staff in an effort to stay within budget.

The hospitals will say that they cannot sustain the existing level of services due to a lack of funding.

The Mater Hospital had already announced 115 bed closures in March due to budgetary constraints.