FF TD hits out at delays to upgrades for local hospitals

UPGRADE works at three community hospital facilities in West Cork are well behind schedule. 

That’s according to FF TD for Cork South West Margaret Murphy O’Mahony, pictured right, who said: ‘New information released to Fianna Fáil reveals that almost one third of projects announced in 2016 has missed their completion date. Three community hospitals in West Cork – St. Anne’s in Skibbereen, Dunmanway Community Hospital and St. Joseph’s in Castletownbere – are all behind schedule.’

She said they should all be open by now if the ‘government had delivered on commitments made back in 2016.’

‘St. Joseph’s in Castletownbere, which was due to be completed in 2017 is still only at tender and contract stage. The target for Dunmanway Community Hospital was 2016 – it’s now forecast that it will be completed by the end of the year, while St. Anne’s in Skibbereen which had been promised for 2018, is forecast to have works completed in mid-2020.

‘These delays have serious knock-on effects for wider health services. Step down and nursing home beds are vastly reduced, increasing pressure on the acute hospital system.  It also means that families may have to consider other options for their loved ones – often involving long journeys – to secure a place in a nursing home.’