Before Christmas the Corkman had us worried that Millstreet Hospital may be in danger of closing because small nursing homes were losing money all around the country:
NURSING homes in Kanturk, Macroom and Millstreet could face closure following comments by Health Minister James Reilly that such facilities with less than a 50 bed capacity are ‘difficult to maintain.’A survey of community hospitals across North and Mid-west Cork shows that the facilities in Kanturk, Macroom and Millstreet all have a capacity of less than 50 beds. [read the full article from the Corkman]
This week the Irish Times reveals that Minister Reilly said that he would look at alternative means of keeping such local hospitals open:
Dr Reilly told The Irish Times that where community nursing homes were not financially viable and local people wished to retain them or take them over, he would be happy to look at how they could remain in operation.
He said different combinations of measures could be [read more …] “Millstreet Hospital facing closure?”
