The Save Our St Joseph’s Action Committee have spoken out against the announcement of a major investment by the HSE in community hospital services.
Last week, the HSE confirmed plans to invest more than €4 million in upgrading works to retain and enhance community hospital services in Stranorlar and Ramelton. Minister Joe McHugh confirmed that up to €2.75 million would be spent on facilities in St. Joseph’s Hospital in Stranorlar.
Fr Joe Duffy of the Save Our St Joseph’s Hospital Action Committee has today raised doubts over the long-term impact of the funding.
Fr Duffy said: “Last Thursday’s announcement will not secure the long term future of St Joseph’s Hospital, in fact it causes further confusion and uncertainty in a post 2018 context.
“The HSE plans announced Thursday 13th April, by Minister of State Joe Mc Hugh are way short on detail and shockingly have no commitment for a post 2018 scenario when the current Derogation of HIQA standards expire.
“The HSE plan has nothing new in it – it is a rehash of a current and existing plans which will only see St Joseph’s and the residential/long stay beds meet the current standards of HIQA which were changed in advance of the last General Election reducing the requirements for long stay beds in Community Hospitals up and until 2018.
The much hailed announcement today fails to deal with a post 2018 situation when the standards again will be changed by HIQA – in fact the current HIQA standards are only interim measures and it is these standards which today’s plans are set to meet.
“Therefore the general public need to be aware of the true and honest reality of what is being suggested and talked about today – we have witnessed previously announcements from Ministers and assisted by the HSE and what they meant – in terms of the January 2016 announcement confirming a new Hospital for Letterkenny while closing three others.
“Focusing on St Joseph’s only today’s (Thursday 13th April) announcement will in no way secure its future – it furthermore does not add one additional service to the Hospital, it is a very basic interim measure, no funding is granted – today’s announcement is only a plan to buy time until 2018 only.
“There is an attempt to present this announcement as something more than it is , perhaps even an attempt to misguide us as a committee, and to misguide the people of the Finn Valley.
“The original decision to close the Hospital Services, the residential unit/long stay beds at St Joseph’s was a political decision by the Previous Government on 26th January, 2016 and nothing short of a political decision can reverse that fact.
“The substantive issue of long term future of St Joseph’s is not resolved yet – many would like us to believe that it is, but it is not – perhaps there is electioneering and posturing of some who are fearful of an imminent Election.
“We on the campaign will not be carried away or distracted by fake news or over played press releases on the part of the Government – it is they who created this mess and instability.
“What we as a Committee remain focused on the complete reversal of the decision of 2016 which will secure the long term future of St Joseph’s and the return of all services at St Joseph’s Stranorlar – no half measures or half-baked plans will dupe us on the committee, the committee will not be fooled by politicians winging it on a prayer.
“Our committee remain resolute on securing the long term future of St. Josephs, its residential/long stay bed unit and all services at the hospital.
“For St Joseph’s the campaign continues – nothing has changed following Thursday’s fake news announcement – we will not rest until our full campaign demands are met – and all politicians need to take heed of that – we will not sell our community or let the Hospital down by accepting anything short of our full campaign demands.”
