Access to Bantry Hospital's acute assessment unit restricted until September

The unit cannot function properly because of a lack of consultants and medical presentations are being taken directly to Cork University Hospital

Bantry General Hospital's Acute Medical Assessment Unit has been closed or had restricted access since last Monday. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Access to Bantry General Hospital’s (BGH) acute services unit is to remain restricted until at least September and the South/South West Hospital Group, which runs the hospital, has said the public needs to “consider other care options” in the interim.

These options should include patients' local GPs and the out-of-hours service, South Doc, the group said in a statement.