INMO: Closure of the Medical Assessment Unit at Mallow General Hospital will put patients at risk

The union says staff were told the unit will close for at least four weeks
The closure is due to lack of medical cover and the INMO say staff at the unit have been advised to take leave or be redeployed.
The MAU is where patients are sent by their GP's and acts as a gateway to being admitted to the hospital.
Speaking to RedFM News, Liam Conway from the INMO says the closure will have a knock on impact on city hospitals:
"This communication was delivered to our members, I suppose, out of the blue, and it wasn't on their radar. Members are very concerned obviously for the service in terms of the short to medium term, it's going to cause a massive disruption to patients and to staff who will likely have to redeploy because of the closure of the unit and unfortunately GP referrals that normally go to MAU may now end up in the Cork city hospitals such as CUH and the Mercy, and we know already that they are overcrowded."
More from Cork
-
Lord Mayor Of City Felt Privileged To Represent Cork During Such A Difficult Time As He Faces Into Last Month In Office
Councillor Joe Kavanagh will be handing over the mayoral chains outside of City Hall for the first time ever on June 18th due to the pandemic
-
Expert calls for people to reduce meat intake
Eating too much meat can increase the risk of serious illnesses by as much as 30%.
-
International Care Day Is Being Celebrated At The Bessborough Centre In Blackrock Today
The event highlights the positive impact of the experience of young people in care
-
UPDATE: Teenage Girl Killed And Three Teenage Boys Injured In Knocknaheeny Crash
It's understood the teenage driver of the car fled the scene on foot
-
Angry Farmers To Stage Protest Outside Aldi in Mitchelstown Later
They're appealing to retailers to come to the talks table
-
UPDATE: Toddler Who Was Injured At Her Home On The Boreenmanna Road Has Died
The two year-old was rushed to hospital with traumatic head injuries