Cork obstetricians have called an emergency meeting tomorrow evening to discuss their concerns about patient safety and staffing levels at the new Cork University Maternity Hospital which is due to open in two weeks' time.
Prof John Higgins, who is Chairman of the Division of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology at the hospital, say their immediate concern is whether they can guarantee safety for all expectant mothers and patients with the closure of the city's three maternity hospitals and the opening of the hospital on 24 March.
Prof Higgins says consultants at the new hospital do not yet know what staff they will have to work with when the new hospital opens.
He said it is not like opening a hotel. They need to be sure they can guarantee safety and be sure they have the actual staff levels to open the hospital - not just the staff needed in the long-term to run the new service.
He also said that a contingency plan is needed to ensure the safe working transition of staff coming from three hospitals into one.
