Donegal Action for Cancer Care are asking all people registered to vote in Donegal to ask their choice of candidate and indeed all those seeking election where heath matters are on their agenda?
The group says is not enough for the candidates to tell us how important it is too them.
“We at DACC want to know what will they do to protect health services for the people of Donegal? You need to know if the health care you or your family need will be there if & when you need it.
“Budgets cuts & recruitment embargo have already had a major impact on our own general hospital in Letterkenny as well as Donegal’s community hospitals. Waiting lists get longer with people waiting years to get seen for health services.
“Acute hospital budgets nationally were cut by €56.5million in 2013 and now in 2014 the hospital budgets are cut for this year by €250 million.
The service plan for Primary Care Services says “primary care schemes through the Primary Care Reimbursement Service include a cost reduction challenge of €231 million in 2014.
And remember things like medical cards are under a comprehensive review of client eligibility and prescription charges with the “delisting” of some drugs from payment by your medical card.
There are so many other key & important health & health care issues that are all facing more major cuts like homecare & community support services that we in DACC have serious concerns about.
The primary aim of DACC is ensure the people of Donegal have access to world- class cancer services whilst ensuring the retention and development of all cancer services at Letterkenny General Hospital. Cancer patients need access to other health services so no health service is safe anymore.
DACC have had fears over the last 3 plus years that the major cuts in place with more on the way that the health needs of Donegal people are in serious danger and under major threat. With Mr Tony O’ Brien the Director General of the HSE warning the Government at the beginning of this year “that a failure to provide funding for its proposed developments for this year could be contrary to the best interests of patients”, DACC are certain that we have yet to have the full impact of these major cuts to our health care service and the impact on the sick people of Donegal.
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