PROPOSAL TO CLOSE TWO CITY HOSPITAL WARDS CONDEMNED

Date Published: 12-Oct-2007

A city councillor is claiming the HSE is planning to close two hospital wards for the elderly and stroke victims.Cllr Catherine Connolly says Unit 2 in Merlin Park and St Rita's Ward at UHG are being considered by the HSE for closure.Unit 2 in Merlin Park is a specialised unit for the treatment of elderly patients with orthopaedic needs.St Rita's Ward in University Hospital Galway is a specialised ward for the treatment of Stroke victims.Cllr Connolly is describing the prospect of their closure as an appalling decision by the HSE. She's tabling an urgent motion for next Monday's city council meeting asking for the Minister for Health Mary Harney to intervene and reverse the decisions.In a statement today the HSE say no decision has been made yet on the wards.