‘At least one centre of excellence’

Tullamore’s new hospital was praised yesterday as ‘state of the art and top of the range, like’ by staff members.

The building has been kitted out with ‘nothing but the best,’ a move that is seen by locals as a veiled apology by the Taoiseach for his tenure as Minister for Health from 1997 – 2000.

Unfortunately the new complex is ‘teeming with infections’ owing to the poor hygiene of the toilets and a reluctance of staff and public alike to wash their hands.

Fine Gael’s Alan Shatter has called on Mr Cowen to replace the ‘as many staff as possible with nuns.’

Across the nation, problems of hygiene bedevil the health system, an infestation of bed bugs at Listowel Community Hospital, Co Kerry, being only the latest example.