A round-up of other health news in brief
Planning board decision due on private hospital
The developers of a new €242 million co-located hospital planned for the grounds of Cork University Hospital will learn this week whether the project can proceed. An Bord Pleanála will deliver its decision following an oral hearing into the matter last year, writes Barry Roche.
Beacon Medical Group has applied for planning permission for a six-storey 183-bed private hospital on the northeastern corner of the CUH campus with the hospital being operated in a joint initiative with its US partner, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Local residents’ groups in the Wilton and Bishopstown areas of Cork objected strongly to the proposal, arguing at the An Bord Pleanála oral hearing that it would lead to serious traffic congestion and parking problems in the area.
Meanwhile, an announcement is due on Thursday from the Sheehan Medical Group regarding its plans for a private hospital incorporating about 100 inpatient beds, oncology and cardiology services and an intensive care unit at Citygate in Mahon in Cork city.
Containing swine flu in the North
Efforts to contain the spread of swine flu in Northern Ireland may not work indefinitely, the health minister warned last night.
Only close contacts of the sick will be given antivirals initially and doctors will be able to diagnose in person rather than awaiting the outcome of laboratory tests if the virus spreads quickly, Michael McGimpsey added. He wants to target those most at risk.
A Scottish patient with underlying health problems has died after testing positive for the H1N1 virus, the first death in Europe.
Mr McGimpsey told the Assembly: “This doesn’t mean that the virus is becoming more severe. The evidence to date suggests that the virus is not changing at all.”
There have been eight cases in Northern Ireland, 1,208 across the UK and 12 in the Republic . More are expected in Northern Ireland.