Closed hospital theatres may never reopen

A LEADING consultant surgeon in Galway says there’s a possibility that the closed surgical theatres in Merlin Park Hospital may never reopen.
It’s also feared that the growing waiting list numbers due to the loss of operating space may result in a stoppage of orthopaedic out-patients appointments.
Two operating theatres where most of the orthopaedic surgery is carried out for the West have been closed since early September because of a leaking roof.
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Galway University Hospitals Michael O’Sullivan told The Tuam Herald that even if the repairs were completed the microbiologist who inspected the theatres has ongoing concerns about infection risks.

The HSE says repairs works started on October 31 and tenders have been sent out for modular temporary theatre facilities.

Read the full story in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald