HSE to warn Dáil committee many public hospitals 'not fit for purpose' in tackling Covid-19

The HSE will today tell a special Oireachtas committee that many public hospitals are "not fit for purpose" in terms of tackling a second wave of Covid-19 cases.

The HSE's director of acute operations Liam Woods will warn the Dáil committee that many public hospitals are not capable of providing the safe distancing needed to protect against the spread of Covid-19.

The HSE will today raise concerns about whether the health service is capable of dealing with another wave of Covid-19 cases.

It will tell a special Oireachtas committee that many public hospitals are "not fit for purpose", and that many of them are not capable of providing the safe distancing needed to protect against the spread of the virus.