Demands have been made for the immediate release of funding by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to upgrade Bandon Community Hospital to a 40-bed unit.

The commitment of the HSE has been called into question by Friends of Bandon Community Hospital as delays and new requirements now threaten the continue existence of the facility.

Committee member Liam Callanan has said that for 25 years now there have been calls for an extension to the 'cottage' hospital, which opened on 1929.

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"It was eventually granted permission in December 2008 following a delay in order to carry out an archaeological dig of the grounds requested by Cork County Council.

"However, the HSE announced a week in advance of planning being granted, a moratorium on the start-up of all new projects."

Liam continued: "The survival of our hospital has never been so threatened so the 'Friends' are again calling on the HSE to immediately release the required funding for upgrading to a 40-bed unit for the people it is supposed to serve."

(H/GK)