More bed closures at the Mater Hospital

Around 80 beds are to be closed at Dublin's Mater Hospital this year. About 60 beds are to be closed at the hospital this month and a further 20 may be closed later this year, it has been confirmed. Link.

This follows the recent announcement of the closure of 52 beds at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital. The HSE said funding for hospitals in the region had been reduced by approximately €65.2 million this year, according to a report in the Irish Times.

The health executive said hospitals have included bed closures as part of their breakeven plans for this year. The HSE is planning to close 1,100 beds around the country this year and is planning to implement a major cutback in hospital admissions.