Call for independent CUH staff review amid safety fears

Consultants at Cork University Hospital (CUH) have urged Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, to appoint an independent assessor to investigate staffing issues at the facility. Last week, CUH Chief Executive Jennifer Kearney wrote to the HSE, voicing serious safety concerns about the hospital's staffing situation amid the upcoming winter months.

However, Minister MacNeill dismissed these concerns, stating that CUH, like every other hospital, must operate within its budget. Professor Greg Fulton, Vascular Surgeon and Chair of the Consultant Staff Committee, emphasized the need for an independent assessor due to discrepancies in staff allocation between CUH, the minister, the HSE, and staff.

Fulton explained that some CUH positions have been allocated to other hospitals and the community, while CUH currently faces a €22 million deficit and is losing €1 million monthly due to the absence of private patients. The hospital is preparing for a busier winter period with an increasing elderly patient population, which Fulton attributes to the hospital's lack of investment over the past 25 years.

Despite the budget constraints, CUH's staff have demonstrated their commitment, maintaining a triage rate of 16 minutes and increasing the discharge rate by 20%. Fulton believes the hospital's problems can be addressed by providing additional resources and staff, and he is confident that CUH can manage safely within its budget.