Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Long term future of Lifford and Rock hospitals to be revealed in September - Doherty

Published: 26 July, 2010


Long term future of Lifford and Rock hospitals to be revealed in September - Doherty

Donegal Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty has warned the government that he will fight any downgrading or closing of our public community hospitals in Donegal. Senator Doherty issued his warning as he received correspondence from Minister for Health, Mary Harney that the review of these facilities will be completed by September.


Senator Doherty said

"Over the past few days I have been informed by the Minister for Health, Mary Harney through a Dáil question that the future of Lifford hospital, the Rock nursing home and other long term residential care facilities will be known in September. Earlier this year I disclosed that a HSE review was taking place into these facilities and that there was serious concern over the long term future of Lifford community hospital and the Rock nursing home in Ballshannon.

"Since then the people of Donegal has made their opposition known to the HSE and Government over any closure of these facilities. Through public petitions and with thousand taking to the streets of Lifford we have left those in power under no illusion of our determination to protect our public hospitals.

"I hope that the HSE and Government have listened to our pleas and that the reviews recommendation will signal much needed capital investment instead of closure. However if any downgrading or closing of our public community hospitals in Donegal are proposed then I will fight them tooth and nail. I can not and will not accept a government telling us how failed banks can't be allowed to close on one hand while on the other closing public hospitals. We have to listened to government preach that the banks are vital to the very survival of our society, we have watched them pump billions of tax payers money into them to keep them open, at the same time as they striped away our public services.

Senator Doherty added:

"For those of us who believe that it is more important to invest in our hospitals instead of banks we must remain focused. While I hope that our efforts up to now will have ensured that no closures take place, we must be prepared to take up the fight again if the HSE and Government have ignored our views." ENDS