Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher.
POLITICS: General Election candidate Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher has reacted angrily to the Government’s response to the impending closure of three Donegal Community Hospitals.
The Community Hospitals in Ramelton, Lifford and Stranorlar will all close in the coming years – to make way for two state-of-the-art facilities in Ballyshannon and Letterkenny.
Gallagher said it was imperative these hospitals remained open and requested that Minister Kathleen Lynch review her proposals for Social Care in Donegal.
The announcement has caused political furore in Donegal, and the Government responded to the criticism yesterday by saying, “Over the past number of years the HSE has developed and extended community services, focusing in particular on older people who can either be cared for in the community or whose capability can be built up to allow community living.
“Given the highly developed community services already in place in Donegal currently, including home care, day care and other short stay facilities right around the county, the continuation and expansion of such services will be a big part of future service provision in this area.
“It is in the context of this planning for the coming years that the use and purpose of the current buildings in Ramelton, Lifford and Stranorlar will be considered in order to ensure that an appropriate service is provided for the older people living in their own community in Donegal.
However, Gallagher said that response is ‘unacceptable, he told Donegal Daily, “I am extremely disappointed with the response that the use and purpose of the current buildings at Ramelton, Lifford and St Josephs will be considered is not acceptable.”
“The Government must immediately reverse this decision and give an absolute guarantee that these three hospitals will receive the necessary funding – thus ensuring their long-term viability.
“I am calling on Government candidates to resist the Government proposal and stand up for Donegal as I will do if elected.”
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