THE MINISTER for Health has ruled out any hope of the shortfall in funding for the new accident and emergency unit of the Mercy University Hospital in Cork being met by her department.
Mary Harney said yesterday a staff increase of more than 50 per cent being sought at the Mercy hospital was clearly not fundable and she did not think it was justified.
The hospital's CEO, Pat Madden, announced on Monday that the new €4.7 million emergency department would be opened - but only during the day due to a shortfall in funding of over €1 million from the HSE.
The facility has lain idle for the past year due to disagreement between management of the voluntary hospital and the HSE over staffing levels. Management say they need an extra 24 staff to run the new facility which will replace the existing outdated A&E department at the Mercy hospital.
A meeting is to take place this afternoon between the HSE and management of the Mercy hospital to discuss the issues Mr Madden raised in a press conference on Monday.
A spokesman for the Mercy hospital said this meeting had been organised after the HSE was informed about the press conference and the details that were to be discussed. "The matters unveiled at Monday's press conference, including the A&E situation, will be discussed," he said.
Socialist Party councillor Mick Barry called on the trade union movement and health service unions in particular to hold a major public protest on the issue.
"A part-time A&E is a Mickey Mouse A&E even if the facilities in it are top class. The people of Cork were promised a top-class A&E at the Mercy and they will not be prepared to settle for anything less," he warned.
Labour Party TD for Cork North Central, Kathleen Lynch said the situation highlighted the HSE attitude whereby the success of a project was measured by accountants and bookkeepers rather than by clinical medical staff.
