Labour protests at empty Cork A&E wing

About 20 Labour Party members gathered outside Cork University Hospital this morning to demand that the new €16 million A&E wing be opened.

Cork North Central TD Ms Kathleen Lynch called on the Minister for Health to spend the €3 million necessary to commission the new wing, which has been "completely empty" since it was completed seven months ago.

Ms Lynch said the "understaffed" old wing "is reminiscent of a scene from M*A*S*H*," adding that the equipment in the old wing is "unsuitable for present-day use.

"This new wing has been completed for seven months and it would appear the Government is more concerned with fanciful pipe dreams such as Punchestown than providing much needed medical facilities for patients," she said.

The Government has come under attack recently about a number of newly built health facilities around the country that are lying idle or partially idle.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein plan to deliver a petition to Minister Martin in August demanding that A&E services be offered in North Central Cork.

North Central Cork has a population of roughly 70,000, according to Councillor Jonathan O'Brien (SF, North Central Cork). These people will not be helped by improved by the opening of the new wing in Cork University Hospital, he said, because of traffic congestion in Cork City.

Councillor O'Brien said the lack of services in North Cork "could be the difference between life and death" for many residents.