Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has called on the Government, Minister for Health and the HSE to come clean and clarify their future position and the future of Lifford Community Hospital.
The call comes after Cllr Gerry Crawford received written confirmation reportedly stating that “the development of Lifford Community Hospital on the existing site is not viable.”
The announcement came as a shock Pat the Cope, who hit out at the HSE, Department of Health and Government over their “complete failure” to commit to an alternative plan for the facility in East Donegal.
“If this policy is allowed to go unchallenged then we could see the Lifford health facility disappear completely from Lifford by post 2021,” Pat the Cope warned.
The Fianna Fáil Deputy added: “The Action Committee for Lifford Community Hospital who have been lobbying and working on behalf of the future of the hospital have done tremendous work in keeping this issue to the fore, but it now appears that an absolute commitment is urgently required from Government as to what their true intent is for this Community Hospital is. It is only that level of intervention will ultimately solve the ongoing crises of the future viability of this Hospital facility.
“Unfortunately there has been a fair share of false dawns in relation to Lifford Hospital in the past. One recalls occasions since 2011 when Government spokespersons within the constituency was announcing millions in funding and heralding new plans that eventually turned out never to be plans at all – it is this spin over substance that has led us to where we are at present.”
Pat the Cope is calling on interested parties with a vested interest in Lifford Community Hospital to immediately sit around the table – the HSE, Department of Health Officials, Minister for Health, Minister of State for Older people and all Donegal Oireachtas Members to plot a way forward for Lifford Community Hospital.
He said: “This needs to be backed up with tangible plans and real commitments and nothing less than that will convince anyone at this stage – such is the level of frustration and betrayal on this matter.
“It is clearly self-evident that no confidence remains in any existing commitments or plans, as far as I am concerned we need a fresh start on this project and that will involve all parties around the negotiating table sooner rather than later,” concluded Pat the Cope.
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