A GROUP campaigning to save hospitals in Lifford, Stranorlar and Ramelton claimed today they are being kept in the dark over HSE plans.
The group says ‘plans’ to downgrade services have still not been published.
“There has been much talk of a plan for the hospitals, yet we know elected representatives have no information on this, yet HIQA has referenced ‘a plan’ in their various reports,” said spokesman Alan McMenamin.
“This means we are in the very strange position of operating in a vacuum where there is no clear picture of how these decisions are being made, and if these decision are made unilaterally.
“We have asked for all information to be made available to us so that we can see how this downgrading decisions was reached.”
The group also set out its views on sitting TDs.
“We were very happy with the outcome of the meeting where the three attending deputies, Thomas Pringle TD, Pearse Doherty TD and Pat the Cope TD who are going to work proactively for us and are full square behind our continuing campaign,” said Alan.
“Charlie McConalogue TD was unable to meet us but has confirmed his intentions and we will be meeting the deputy soon. Joe McHugh TD has indicated that he is willing to meet with us but we have no confirmed date for this nor any indication that he is going to back our campaign, which is somewhat disappointing but we remain positive that Deputy McHugh will at some time agree with us on this situation.”
He added: “The figures mentioned in the HIQA report suggest that the need for the 3 hospitals is even more pertinent when consideration for a new Community Nursing Unit in Letterkenny would not be in a position to cope with the demand.
“We are liaising with various professionals and many others to look at this in a forensic manner as we to-date cannot see how the downgrading makes any financial, medical or overall care better, frankly it doesn’t.”
The SOS committee says it is continually meeting and planning to ensure that what they set out to do will be achieved.
“That is to save and if possible expand these services in our communities. The process involved may take many months but we are in this for the long haul,” added Alan.
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