Hospital protesters criticise Fine Gael deputies

FINE GAEL  TDs were jeered at a public meeting in Roscommon last night as a medical expert accused the party of pulling a fast one on the people of the county.

Dr Pat McHugh, a former consultant in Roscommon county hospital, echoed the views of other local doctors when he said people would die on the road between Roscommon and Galway if the local emergency department is downgraded.

Several hundred people  failed to squeeze  into the packed meeting attended by about 1,000 in  the Abbey hotel.

The meeting was held  hours after Minister for Health James Reilly indicated that from July 11th,  the current 24-hour emergency unit would operate only from 8am to 8pm – and would close if additional non-consultant hospital doctors are not recruited.

Local Fine Gael TDs told the meeting they had campaigned in good faith on the basis of commitments given by the current Minister,  but  Dr McHugh was cheered when he said the party had got votes under false pretences.

Local GPs expressed concern about the risks for their patients if they have to make a journey of up to 125 miles to University College Hospital Galway.

Leitrim-based Dr Martina Cogan  cited the case of one 94-year-old patient who was referred to the Galway hospital but was sent home again because of pressure on facilities.

At last night’s meeting campaigners circulated a letter to “the people of Roscommon” published in local newspapers two weeks before the election  in which Dr Reilly promised to retain the emergency services in Roscommon “in line with Fine Gael policy”.

Dr McHugh said  the Government was now offering the people a nursing home and an ambulance in place  of a hospital.

Independent TD Luke Ming Flanagan  was cheered when he called on the Fine Gael TDs to resign in solidarity with the hospital. Una Ni Chuinn,  of the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee, said there were 49 people a day on trolleys in the Galway hospital and she asked where the 13,500  annual emergency cases from Roscommon  would go.

MEP Marian Harkin pledged to support the campaign and urged local people  to remember what happened to hospitals in Monaghan and Mallow.

Roscommon hospital campaigners hope to take their protest to the Connach football final later this month against Mayo. Organisers are encouraging Roscommon supporters to wear special white T-shirts to signify the campaign in place of their county colours.