A new beginning - Hospitals show great ambition

YESTERDAY’S announcement that the Mercy University Hospital and South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital are to amalgamate to develop a state-of-the-art public teaching hospital is welcome.

These revered institutions have been at the centre of healthcare in the south of Ireland for many decades and have earned the trust, admiration and thanks of the population of Munster. The hospitals propose to consolidate and expand their specialisations and to achieve this they will open talks with the Department of Health and Children, the HSE, UCC and staff representatives.

The hospitals will explore various funding options with State agencies, along with co-funding initiatives with commercial developers. Participation in this ambitious project is also open to developers who might wish to be involved.