Loss of hospital beds in north-east 'obscene'
The news that the north-east is to lose up to 1,000 hospital beds over the next five years has been described as 'obscene'.
According to the Chairman of the Health Services Action Group, Peadar McMahon, the move will pose a direct threat to patient safety.
A leaked report claims the Government plans to close all existing in-patient beds in the region by 2012, replacing them at a new location which has not yet been named.
Mr McMahon believes money, not safety, has become the driver of patient care.
