A petition to save the facility is now in circulation the locality and already it has attracted hundreds of signatures.
The issue was raised last Sept, by local GP, Dr. Paul Stewart who told the Tirconail Tribune that the building was in need of urgent repairs and upgrading to keep it up the necessary standards sought by HIQA.
Dr. Stewart has been campaigning for many years to have refurbishment carried out to the building but with no success. He raised the concerns of the community during a largely attended meeting of the Dunfanaghy Area Community Area Network and got unanimous support for his position.
Paul Kernan of the group said that it is now more urgent than ever for the community to seek to have the chalet type facility upgraded to modern day standards.
“If funding is not provided to meet the current criteria for such facilities then it will be closed. We must make the retention of the Dispensary a community issue and we must seek to have appropriate funding provided now,” he said.
The cost of bringing the old dispensary up to modern day standards is estimated at around €100,000 but no funding or essential repairs have been provided by the HSE. Problems include a lack of access for wheelchairs, no disability facilities and narrow corridors as well as a general lack of space.
The closure of the facility would force elderly patients, many of whom do not have cars, to make the 20 kilometre return journey to Creeslough to visit their GP.It’s claimed that the current facility in Dunfanaghy will soon be subject to a HIQA inspection which has led to fears that its closure could be on cards because no money has been provided for an upgrade.
Despite repeated efforts to have the necessary repairs carried out no progress has been achieved and this matter is now on the public agenda and it is expected that Wednesday night’s meeting will offer a platform for all views to be considered. Everyone is invited to come along and make their views known.