Vital service subjected to closure by stealth

MALLOW General Hospital provides vital services to the people of north Cork, east Kerry and south Limerick.

In fact it has the only A&E department north of the River Lee.

HIQA rightfully places great store in the dignity of the patient. Hopefully it will come to the obvious conclusion that a patient alive and fighting for his or her life in Mallow hospital is a far more dignified and successful outcome than one who dies en route to Cork in an ambulance. Many of the residents of my nursing home would not be alive today without the care and attention they received while in Mallow hospital. It would be an absolute scandal to proceed along the current path of closure by stealth.