The Government is to ask the National Treatment Purchase Fund to consider using idle or underused medical facilities at Monaghan General Hospital to provide services for patients on lengthy waiting lists.
The hospital has been at the centre of controversy over the withdrawal of services, including maternity facilities. It has been off-call for emergency admissions for two years.
Recently five non-consultant doctors specialising in surgery were told that their contracts would not be renewed in January, sparking concern about the range of surgery which can be provided at the hospital in the future.
A spokesman for the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Ms Harney, said last night the Department of Health was in the process of asking the fund to consider using the facilities at Monaghan. He said this was one of a number of options being considered. He said the fund was likely to examine the facilities and report back to the Department.
The fund was established to buy care either from the private sector or abroad for patients on lengthy waiting lists. It has bought some treatments from public hospitals with spare capacity. The fund will have around €60 million to spend next year.
