Councillor Gary Doherty has labelled as ‘scandalous and deeply shocking’ figures showing that total staffing levels at St Joseph’s Community Hospital in Stranorlar have fallen by over 22% since Fine Gael and Labour entered government.
Councillor Doherty’s comments come following figures obtained from the HSE which show that the number of personnel employed at the hospital dropped from 140 in 2005 down to just 98 last year.
A total of 25 permanent and temporary positions alone having been lost under the lifetime of the current Fine Gael/Labour government.
Cllr Doherty said these shocking figures.
“I have obtained these figures through my party colleague Deputy Pearse Doherty following a request to the HSE, and they show that last year there were 42 less members of staff employed at St Joseph’s Community Hospital than there were back in 2005.
“In fact, the majority of these permanent and temporary positions were lost during the current Fine Gael and Labour government’s term in office, falling from 123 positions in 2010 down to just 98 positions in 2015.
“This reduction represents over a twenty per cent drop in overall staffing numbers in the five years between 2010 and 2015, during which time the current government parties have been at the helm.
“For any hospital, especially one as strategically important as St Joseph’s in Stranorlar, to lose over one fifth of their staff in such a short space of time is not only deeply shocking but a scandalous indictment of government attitude towards the health needs of the people of the Finn Valley.
“St Joseph’s hospital has served the people of the Finn Valley for decades ever since it was first established originally as a district hospital. Over the years, the hospital has been modified and today provides primarily nursing care for older people throughout the region, including rehabilitation, convalescence and respite care.
“In 2014 alone, the centre had 561 admissions through its doors which demonstrates the importance of St Joseph’s Community Hospital to the Finn Valley as not only an integral part of our health infrastructure but it also reflects the faith and confidence which local people have in the care and treatment which its hard working and dedicated staff provide.
“It is an insult to the people of east Donegal that such an important facility is allowed to be neglected as has been the example shown under the current coalition.”
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