The impact of staffing shortages at Bantry General Hospital is rippling out, putting significant additional pressure on already overcrowded Emergency Departments in Cork and Kerry.
That's according to the Industrial Relations Officer of The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
It comes as the hospital continues not to accept new admissions.
The South/South West Hospital Group, of which Bantry General Hospital is part, says it was necessary to close to new admissions because of staff shortages at the hospital's Acute Medical Assessment Unit.
The Group told RedFM News that the issues in Bantry are short-term and will be resolved in the coming weeks.
However, the Industrial Relations Officer for the INMO, Liam Conway told RedFM News that it is essential Bantry is properly staffed because already overstretched Emergency Departments at CUH and MUH are being expected to deal with the redirected patients:
"Without the Medical Assessment Unit, that means the hospital is closed for admissions. It also places significant pressure in the acute hospitals so Cork University Hospital, the Mercy University Hospital and University Hospital Kerry, and their admissions will obviously increase and will impact on the emergency department, which we know already are overcrowded."
