A COUNTY Councillor has accused the HSE of being “sneaky” after pulling subsidies for bus services taking hospital patients from Donegal to Dublin.
Cllr Patrick Mc Gowan told donegaldaily.com that he has learned today patients will be told to make there own way to Dublin either by Taxis or Express bus.
“Either way The Goverment/ HSE will not provide adequate health services in the North West and now are withdrawing support to get patients to Dublin,” he said.
“There been no negations and there will be none as the decision has been taken. This is just another one of the Labour/ FG Goverment’s attacks on rural Ireland and it comes as the Goverment and its ministers head off on their holidays and can’t be held to account,” added Cllr McGowan.
Donegal Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill has described the decision as ‘deeply disappointing’ and has said patients who need to travel to Dublin for treatment will be directly impacted.
“This daily bus service to Dublin hospitals has been a god send over the years for cancer patients in particular who require specialist treatment in Dublin hospitals. The news today that the HSE is cancelling the service at the end of the month comes as another major blow to health services in Donegal,” said Senator Ó Domhnaill.
“People are justifiably wondering how it is that Donegal is consistently targeted by this Government for particularly harsh cuts to local health services? Dozens of community hospital beds in Donegal have already been shut down this year at the request of the Health Minister James Reilly, and he is expected to close dozens more here in the coming months. Now, patients who depend on this HSE bus to get them to appointments at hospitals in Dublin, are being left in the lurch.
“I intend to raise this matter in Seanad Éireann at the earliest possible opportunity. I have already requested a special debate on the matter in the Seanad tomorrow (Thursday, 12 July). While I accept that public spending needs to brought under control, the money required for this bus service is modest considering the comfort and support it provides patients.”
