A delegation of the Save Our St Joseph’s Hospital Action Group, is to meet the Health Minister and other officials to state their case today.
The Stranorlar campaign group is battling to reverse government plans to transfer all nursing care in St. Joseph’s Hospital to a new Letterkenny facility by 2021.
The SOS group is due to meet with Minister Simon Harris, Minister of State Jim Daly, Department of Health officials, HSE officials and Donegal Oireachtas members.
The meeting was organised by Minister Joe McHugh. However the group has criticised the Minister’s recent failure to supply vital material for their campaign.
Fr John Joe Duffy. Chairperson of the Save Our St. Joseph’s Hospital Action Group said:
“Much to the disappointment of our Action Group Minister Joe McHugh has failed in his commitment to obtain these and failed to respond to numerous requests for information regarding his commitment to obtain the Rhatigan Report and HSE plan.”
Despite this, Fr Duffy is hopeful for a positive outcome from today’s Dáil visit.
He said: “Our hope is that this Wednesday’s meeting will be the road map to reverse the cuts and decision to close down the residential and nursing care units, to restore our bed complement to 78 and restore staffing levels which have been depleted.
“The hospital is been depleted of resources consistently as more and more of the residents in the St. Joseph’s catchment area are shipped out to nursing homes despite their wish to remain within their own community.”
Fr Duffy said further action will be taken if the meeting does not secure all long stay, short stay, convalescent and dementia nursing care at St Joseph’s.
He said: “If this meeting does not give us back our services at St. Joseph’s Hospital, we guarantee the Government a winter of discontent.
“We will launch a plan of action for the consideration of the people and are seriously considering the running of a hospital candidate in the forthcoming elections.
“Nevertheless, we approach this week’s meeting in a constructive fashion and open minded, but equally and completely resolved and determined to resolve this crisis facing our community hospital and to succeed in restoring all services to St. Joseph’s community hospital and nursing residential unit.”
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