Pat the Cope Gallagher has called on Minister of State Kathleen Lynch to reverse her decision to downgrade and close services at three Donegal Community Hospitals.
His call comes following a major march at the weekend when over 2,000 people took to the streets to save Lifford Hospital, Ramelton Hospital and St Joseph’s Hospital, Stranolar.
Pat the Cope who was first to break the story on the closure of the community hospitals, when uncovered the announcement buried in a Department of Health press release, has demanded that the Minister to reverse her political decision to close these vital facilities.
The decision to close these hospitals “ is a Ministerial function alone, and despite the dissolution of the Dáil, the functions and authority of the Ministers still remain with the Ministers in situ, therefore Minister Lynch still retains the authority to reverse her earlier decision “ stated the Cope.
Pat the Cope has assured the public that if Fianna Fail is returned to Government, that they will immediately reverse the decision made by Minister Lynch,
This comes following a visit to all three hospital by Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin T.D., who also met with the Hospital Action Committee, during that meeting Deputy Martin conveyed full support for the retention of the Hospitals.
In addition both Deputy Martin and Pat the Cope assured the committee “that priority would be given to put in place the necessary funding to bring all three hospitals up to the necessary standards for long term stay patients”.
Pat the Cope who also took part in this weekends march and spoke at the public meeting afterwards in Jacksons Hotel concluded by stating if these closures go ahead: “community care and hospital care for our sick, elderly and aging population right throughout Donegal will be seriously eroded and many families will have their lives very negatively impacted on by the removal of these services”
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