Deputies show support for hospital which may have saved their lives

TWO OPPOSITION TDs who say their lives were saved by staff at Monaghan General Hospital yesterday protested in public together. The demonstration was against the ending of acute services at the facility where they both had urgent cardiac treatment.

Seymour Crawford of Fine Gael and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin of Sinn Féin were joined by around 150 people at the protest in Monaghan town, according to local gardaí. Sinn Féin estimated the number of protesters at 300.

Mr Crawford said he and Mr Ó Caoláin had benefited from treatment at the cardiac unit. "There's no knowing what would've happened to either of us if we'd had to travel a further distance."

Monaghan General Hospital will continue to provide day- medical and day-surgical services and step-down beds.

The HSE has confirmed that up to 130 staff at the hospital will be redeployed when all acute services are transferred to Cavan General Hospital in the new year.

Mr Crawford said yesterday morning's protest was peaceful. "But obviously there's tremendous tension in the area. People are extremely angry. It's complete and utter lunacy what's being done here in Monaghan. Some of our top business people closed their businesses today and came into the office to see how they could help."

Mr Ó Caoláin said he attributed his survival after a heart attack last year to services at the Monaghan hospital. "How in the name of God would we ever have made the trip to Cavan. Would we have ever safely got there?"

He praised people who joined the protest yesterday after an announcement was made on local radio. "Despite the fact that the HSE is endeavouring to drive the final nail into the coffin of services at Monaghan General, the people are resilient and determined to fight the fight."

He claimed local Fianna Fáil representatives had failed the people of Monaghan.

"Thanks to the Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members for Cavan-Monaghan, who failed to confront their Government on a life and death issue, healthcare in Co Monaghan is to be devastated, while Cavan General Hospital will be forced to cope with a huge additional workload of patients without the additional resources required."