Govt policy is ‘tearing heart out’ of rural communities

A parish priest leading a campaign to keep community hospitals open in three rural towns in Co. Donegal has criticised Government policy for “failing rural Ireland”.

Fr John Joe Duffy, parish priest in Stranorlar described plans to remove long-term beds, or residential nursing beds, from the community hospitals in Lifford, Ramelton and Stranorlar for a new unit to be built in Letterkenny as closure “by stealth”.

“They say they are keeping the hospitals open, which is technically correct because they are keeping services at the hospitals, but the long-term beds are the essential part of the hospitals. They are taking away a vital part of the service which will collapse the hospitals and it will be disastrous for our communities,” he said.

Hospitals

“It will make it impossible for people to visit their relatives on a daily basis which is happening when these hospitals are at the heart of the community, so it is tearing the heart out of these communities.”

Fr Duffy said this latest announcement is another example of the “erosion of smaller towns and rural communities by Government policy trying to move people into massive urban centres”.

“Projections say over 550 beds for long-term care will be needed in Donegal and the new facility in Letterkenny can only guarantee less than half of what’s needed. It doesn’t make sense when there will be a greater need for beds because we have an ageing population.”

Following a meeting attended by over 400 people in Stranorlar last week the ‘Save Our Services’ committee was formed, chaired by Fr Duffy, which is seeking an immediate meeting with the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Kathleen Lynch to request an immediate stay on the decision to downgrade the hospitals.

The campaign group is also expecting large crowds for a public march on Saturday, February 13 at 1.30pm, starting at St Josephs’ hospital in Stranorlar.