asked the Minister for Health if the nursing staff of the County and City Infirmary in County Waterford who were appointed as permanent nursing staff by his Department will be reappointed elsewhere, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Waterford Infirmary Staff.
26.
The measures which the hospital considers necessary for it to implement in order to keep expenditure within the approved limits have been discussed at two meetings between officials of my Department and representatives of the hospital. Closure of the hospital was not one of the measures considered, although mentioned by the hospital as a possible outcome if its cost containment measures were unsuccessful. In these circumstances, it would be inappropriate for me to speculate as to the arrangements which might need to be made in the event of the hospital deciding to close.
Some of the measures put forward by the hospital have implications for the services provided by the health board. Officials of my Department have recently discussed these with the board and the Department will now be arranging a further meeting with the hospital.