Following a meeting with HSE senior management, Dublin West TD and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton confirmed that the Accident and Emergency Department at Connolly Hospital will continue to provide a 24 hour service.

Joan welcomed the recognition and long term commitment by the HSE to Connolly Hospital which will also see the continuance of the Long Term Care Units at Connolly Hospital as part of the HSE Service Plan for 2012

Minister Burton did recognise that due to budget cutbacks, and because the hospital entered 2012 with a deficit of around 6%, it would be necessary to close some beds at various times during the year, as occurred in 2011.

Minister Burton welcomed the funding which has been put in place by the HSE, which will provide Connolly Hospital with a state of the art MRI facility subject local agreement been put in place.