A Donegal Deputy has disputed claims that a surgical hub in Sligo instead of Letterkenny University Hospital is a ‘done deal’.
Deputy Charles Ward from the 100% Redress Party was reacting to claims from Junior Minister Marian Harkin that the decision has already been made to locate a surgical hub for the north west at Sligo University Hospital.
There has been widespread condemnation in Donegal over the HSE selecting Sligo University Hospital as a recommended location for the surgical hub in the north west.
It was revealed at a Regional Health Forum that the submission of the HSE’s business case for the Sligo facility had been delayed. As of Tuesday, the HSE hadn’t sent anything to the Department of Health.
On Thursday, the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill also confirmed that no decision had been made.
Minister Harkin has today stated that she was part of a group of Independents to insist on a surgical hub for Sligo in the Programme for Government.
Deputy Charles Ward said he was “surprised and disappointed”.
He said: ‘The programme for government clearly states that the government will “explore the provision of an additional surgical hub for the North-West”, there is no mention of Sligo as a location.’
During Parliamentary Questions with the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, on Thursday, Deputy Ward asked the Minister to give her reassurances to the public that the decision of where to locate the surgical hub would be ‘data driven and free from influence.’
The 100% Redress Party TD said today: “Remarks like those made by Minister Harkin risk undermining public trust in the process and the suggestion that political deals are being allowed to influence healthcare decisions is very concerning. The public rightly expects the Minister for Health to stand firm – to ensure that her department is not undermined by political manoeuvring. Minister Carroll MacNeill has assured me that this decision will be based on principle, not pressure, is Minister Harkin disputing this?”
