Decision to privatise community hospital a disgrace

THE recent announcement by the HSE that the newly-built 100-bed Ballincollig Community Hospital is being put out to tender as a private (for profit) hospital is a disgrace.

Using the Government embargo on recruitment as an excuse, the HSE is about to hand over this hospital, built with taxpayers’ money, to private operators. The HSE will then use taxpayers’ money to fund the equipment and operation of the hospital while the private operators make a handsome profit on the backs of workers.

The further revelation in the Irish Examiner (May 22) that a secret advisory board of rich people exists to advise the HSE in the Cork area once again exposes the golden circle that runs the show in this dismal and corrupt little state. The future of our health service is now being discussed behind closed doors by a collection of property developers, medical millionaires, horse trainers and university presidents.