A march will be held this weekend in relation to the proposed plans to close Donegal Community Hospitals.
POLITICS: A massive crowd are expected to attend a march which has been organised in an attempt to stop the impending closure of three Donegal Community Hospitals, and a health dispensary in Dunfanaghy.
Election candidate Tim Jackson has called on people from around Donegal to join Saturday’s Save Our Hospitals March in Stranorlar.
The campaign to save three Donegal hospitals and a Dunfanaghy health dispensary has been to the forefront of local election issues so far, with Jackson stating that a big turnout on Saturday would send the strongest message possible to the relevant Government ministers.
Jackson told Donegal Daily, “It’s crucial that the Government realise this is a redline issue for Donegal voters, because the last thing they want is to lose votes on the eve of an election.
“Joe McHugh really has two weeks to provide the funding and reverse these Department of Health decisions, or he should face the electoral consequences. He is the only man in Donegal with the power to rectify the situation.
“Closing vital community services has become commonplace in rural Ireland, and events like Saturday are rare opportunities for all of Donegal to stand together and give our grassroots response to a Government that is decimating our towns and villages.
“The three hospital committees from Stranorlar, Lifford and Ramelton are joining together for this fight because there is strength in numbers, and everyone knows these hospitals will close sooner or later if the Department of Health is allowed continue with their incremental cuts. Now is the time to stop them.”
The March begins at 1.30pm from St. Joseph’s, finishing with a public meeting at 2.30pm in Jackson’s Hotel.
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