The West of Ireland's sole dedicated arthritis treatment unit is to be closed as part of budgetary cutbacks by the Health Service Executive (HSE).Consultants, medical staff and local politicians have expressed anger at the move to shut down the 34-bed rheumatology and medical unit at Merlin Park Hospital from the end of the month.
The unit, which was established over the last 20 years, treats over 6,000 people annually both in the hospital and through out-patient services. It serves a catchment of up to half a million on the western seaboard.
