Donegal’s two Sinn Féin TDs Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Pearse Doherty have described any closure of the Gynae Ward at Letterkenny Hospital as “an attack on the dignity of the women of Donegal”.
A facebook page entitled “Save the Gynae Ward at LGH” has already mobilised hundreds of women across the county to contact their public representatives and speak out.
Deputies Mac Lochlainn and Doherty said the plans are unacceptable.
“The reported closure of this ward is totally unacceptable and has been understandably met with outrage and despair by women across the county. This ward has rightly been described as a safe haven for women who have suffered the pain of miscarriage as well as providing a female only environment of support for women undergoing surgeries such as hysterectomies, bladder repairs and all the female cancers.
“We have already been contacted by women telling their own personal stories of how much this service means to them”.
The Sinn Fein TDs say they fully endorse the emerging campaign against this closure.
“We stand with the women of this county against what is an attack on their dignity at a time of distress. We would encourage women across the county to back the campaign and let their local Fine Gael and Labour elected representatives know that they must demand that their Government colleague, Minister of Health, James Reilly intervene.
“The Minister has issued directives to senior HSE officials and hospital managers to implement severe cutbacks with no guidance as to what services are untouchable. This reported closure has moved beyond the threshold of decency and must be reversed immediately”
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