THE HEALTH MINISTER, and representatives from both the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and HSE are to come before the Oireachtas Health Committee this afternoon to discuss the current situation at Mount Carmel Hospital.
Deputy Jerry Buttimer, Chairman of the committee, said the closure of the hospital after 65 years in operation caused ‘shock, concern and sadness’ among patients and staff affected.
NAMA acquired the hospital’s loans in 2010 and had been working to put arrangements ensure its viability.
However, the hospital has incurred significant losses since 2010 and it had not been possible to come to an arrangement, despite several offers being in place to buy the hospital.
More than 300 jobs were loss after the hospital entered liquidation last month.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie before today’s meeting, INMO representative Philip McAnenly said the organisation will call for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the hospital’s liquidation.
“We would also like to have more information on the nature of the bids that failed,” he said.
If one of the bids had been successful, it could have saved the taxpayer in the region of €90 million, as well as hundreds of jobs at the hospital, he said.
You can watch the meeting online here in Committee Room 1 at 2.30pm.
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