October was the worst month on record for Irish hospital overcrowding
17:20, 02 Nov 2026Updated 17:22, 02 Nov 2026
Cork University Hospital
The Minister for Health must “stop sparring” with bosses at Munster’s biggest hospital and explain back-to-back reports of patient safety risks.
Those are words of Cork Senator Laura Harmon, coming after a warning was allegedly issued to Cork University Hospital Chief Executive Jennifer Kearney. The Senator has urged the Health Minister to listen to the concerns of doctors at Cork’s busiest hospital.
A senior HSE executive reportedly informed Ms Kearney last month that she could face ‘performance management action,’ amid concerns of a staffing crisis at CUH.
The hospital chief has stated on numerous occasions this year that the facility has a shortage of hundreds of staff. The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has said her Department is providing all necessary resources to meet safety standards, yet trolley figures continue to cause concern. October this year was the worst month on record for overcrowding in Irish hospitals, with CUH among the most affected.
Any performance management action would be a rare, extreme move from government – effectively putting the hospital boss on notice amid ongoing concerns about staff and patient care.
In a letter in August this year, the CUH Chief stated that the hospital was short by the equivalent of more than 1,050 full-time posts, that it was in an unsustainable position, and that it wasn’t safe to enter the winter period at that staffing level.
It has been reported that the alleged ‘performance warning’ for Ms Kearney was directed by the government. The offices of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, have denied giving a HSE executive any direction to warn her about performance management action.
The Health Minister, however, has disputed the hospital’s position on staffing and said it meets all necessary safety standards. She also recently criticised CUH for the high numbers of patients on trolleys despite recent staff recruitment.
Speaking in the Dáil, Ms MacNeill argued that other healthcare facilities have similar demands and stresses, but are handling their situations better. She said: “The reality is there are some hospitals that have not improved, that need to improve. And bizarrely, the ones that consistently don’t improve, ie. Cork, have had the highest recruitment.”
According to the Minister, 233 staff have been recently recruited at CUH.
In recent days, hospital clinical directors sent a letter to the Taoiseach, urging him to intervene and support the CUH. They are calling for an independent staffing assessment and urgent approval for 172 priority posts.
HIQA, the Health Information and Quality Authority, are due to carry out another inspection of CUH in due course.
Cork Senator Laura Harmon has said the upcoming HIQA assessment “does not remove the need for a separate examination of staffing requirements.” She called on the government to explain reports of recent conversations with the CUH chief, and to heed warnings from clinicians.
She described the alleged warning to Ms Kearney as “deeply concerning.”
She said: “The minutes reportedly record a senior HSE executive saying that the Taoiseach’s and Minister’s offices had instructed him to have specific conversations with Jennifer Kearney. Both have denied speaking to him. That leaves serious questions about what contact took place between their offices and the HSE. We need clear answers.
“Hospital leaders must have the confidence to speak openly about risks. Any suggestion that raising concerns could lead to professional consequences risks discouraging others from speaking out. Patients depend on staff at every level having the confidence to raise the alarm.
“Jennifer Kearney’s concerns have the backing of consultants at CUH. Nine clinical directors have sought an independent staffing assessment and urgent approval for 172 priority posts. These clinicians carry responsibility for patient care, and the Minister must heed their warnings…
“An independent review must establish what staffing CUH needs to meet patient demand and where recruitment restrictions prevent it from filling essential posts.”
She further drew attention to the recent launch of the hospital’s €90m surgical hub, which closed for two weeks almost immediately after failing an air-contamination test.
It has since reopened. However, Senator Harmon warns: “New buildings cannot deliver care without the staff to run them.
“Minister Carroll MacNeill must stop sparring with CUH management, explain the reported pressure on its CEO and commission an independent staffing review without delay. She must then provide the funding and recruitment approvals needed to address its findings. Cork patients and staff deserve action now. Fine Gael are holding their Ard Fheis in Cork this coming weekend. Cabinet have the opportunity to meaningfully engage with staff in CUH.”