Blanchardstown hospital to close 12 beds

Twelve beds are to be closed at James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown this morning as the crisis in the health service…

Twelve beds are to be closed at James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown this morning as the crisis in the health service worsens.

The hospital closed 20 beds last week due to funding difficulties.

In Cork's University Hospital, a 24-bed ward will close for 10 weeks from June 23rd and six ophthalmic beds will close for two months.

The five Dublin academic teaching hospitals announced earlier this month they were closing 2,650 beds between them.

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Last night the Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) said it was disappointed at the closures in Blanchardstown.

"The organisation had expected that any further bed closures would have been deferred until the whole matter had been discussed again at the meeting between ICTU and the Department of Health scheduled to take place some time next week," INO industrial relations officer Mr Philip McAnenly said.