REACTION:GENERAL PRACTITIONERS in the Roscommon County Hospital catchment area have called on Minister for Health James Reilly and the Health Service Executive to "tell the truth" about the closure of the hospital's emergency department.
“If this was a safety issue, the hospital would have received adequate resources before now,” the GPs’ spokesman, Martin Daly, said last night.
“This decision has been taken to save on resources, not ensure safety, and we have genuine fears that lives will be lost,” he said.
As talks between HSE West and unions continued last night, Dr Daly said the handling of the situation had been “shambolic”.
“How can medical professionals and the public place their trust in an organisation – the HSE – which has caused widespread confusion over the past two weeks, and which has already failed to meet promises made following the closure of emergency and surgery at Monaghan?” Dr Daly asked.
He said this had been confirmed by his medical contacts in Monaghan,with whom he had spoken yesterday.
The GPs believe that HSE West’s failure to make adequate alternative arrangements to cope with the emergency department’s closure next Monday has resulted in an effective deferral for a month.
However, the HSE has insisted that a “change” will take place on Monday as planned.
Unions negotiating with HSE West management in talks at Roscommon warned earlier yesterday that that they would not co-operate without clear commitments on safety, adequate funding, and staffing.
HSE West director of regional operations in the West, John Hennessy, said: “our first and only priority here is the safety of patients”.
Impact said 67 staff had left the hospital since 2008 and had not been replaced, while Siptu paramedics’ spokesman, Kevin Figgis, said there had been “no discussions with us with regard to future ambulance care”.
The Fine Gael whip on Roscommon County Council pledged that his members would be “working to reverse” the closure of its emergency department.
Cllr Michael McGreal, a former chair of the local authority, also said it was “disappointing” that before the general election Dr Reilly had given a written commitment, which had not been kept, to retain and develop services at the hospital.
Cllr McGreal denied earlier reports yesterday that the 10 Fine Gael councillors on the 26-strong local authority were meeting to discuss resigning the party whip.
An alliance of Fine Gael, a group of independent councillors, including two Roscommon Hospital Action Committee supporters, and Sinn Féin hold the balance of power on the local authority.
However, election of a new mayor scheduled for June 27th was deferred for three weeks, due to the controversy over the hospital.