Cork Hospitals Review Group report November 1992

Abstract

Cork Regional Hospital ("CRH") has a total bed complement of 602 beds (of which 50 are closed) and a staff of 1,500. Annual operating costs are approximately £36m. Medical and Surgical Services at the CRH The CRH provides a wide range of regional specialities; neurosurgery, cardio-thoracic surgery, ophthalmic surgery, nephrology, plastic surgery and radio therapy. It has a good range of general service specialities; general surgery I vascular, general surgery I gastrointestinal, urology, orthopaedics. Cork Hospitals Review Group gynaecology and acute psychiatry. Within the medical department the following specialities are provided: endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology, rheumatology, neurology, respiratory medicine, haematology, geriatric medicine, dermatology and palliative medicine. The hospital also has a paediatric unit. The CRH has strong departments in the clinical support services of anaesthetics, radiology and pathology. The CRH has one of the busiest and largest A&E departments in the country. That department operates continuously 24 hours a day throughout the entire year. This demand imposes a considerable strain both organisationally and clinically on the hospital resources. In 1991 the attendances at the A&E department amounted to 43,000 of which new patients were 3,000 and return patients 6,000.