Colgan Hall packed for hospital protest
Over four hundred people packed out the Colgan Hall on Friday night to discuss the possible closure of the Carndonagh Community Hospital.
In what turned out to be one of the most well-attended public meetings in the peninsula in some time, it was standing room only as the people piled in to have their voices heard and make their presence felt.
As well as being widely attended by Donegal county councillors, TDs and members of the community, Gertie Monagle, former matron of the hospital, Mary Gillen from the Carndonagh Alzheimers Society and former GP Dr John Madden addressed the large crowd on the benefits of the hospital and the problems it faced.
Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh pledged his commitment to the hospital, adding that it was vital people continued to fight for the future and continue to work together.
Speaking on Friday night, Deputy McHugh said that following a meeting with the Minister, the head of community services in Donegal and the hospital manager last Wednesday in Letterkenny, he could say that “Carndonagh will continue to provide the quality service it has always provided”.
“Yes, beds have closed and, yes, there were reasons for some to close, but the key thing is the community hospital is not just about long-term care. The reality is there is a mission statement saying people can come from Letterkenny Hospital after having a fall or a broken leg, and they can remain in Carndonagh for a certain length of time before moving back home again.
“My support for that type of a module will continue because it is working. It is a thriving hospital and I’m here to reiterate my commitment and my continued negotiation with you as a community. This has to be two way, you must stay in touch with me and stay in touch my council colleagues and I will continue to work as your Government representative in Inishowen.”
Deputy McHugh said he agreed with Betty Holmes, of Donegal Action for Cancer Care, that in order for Letterkenny General Hospital to survive a vital community base in Carndonagh and Buncrana was needed.
“If they close beds here in Inishowen then Letterkenny will become more and more clogged up. The key to keep an adequate health service in Donegal is to keep Carndonagh open and I have yet to meet someone within the hospital, HSE or Department to say that is it is closing. It is not closing. If we close it the whole health system breaks down.”
The Carrigart-based politician congratulated the organising committee for a successful meeting and he said the massive turnout at the meeting gave him hope.
“I arrived in Inishowen this morning, I visited Whitecastle school then I moved on to Moville and Buncrana. And what I got today is perspective - that people are hurting, people are in trouble, people are looking for light to give them hope. The real challenge for us as politician is to give people hope.
“And when I was walking over here from McClure’s I saw hope in the fact that there were cars parked right up the Quigley’s Point road. That gives me hope that the community here is thriving, alive and well, and here to support the hospital.”
He said he understood the value of the hospital and he had seen at first hand, along with party member Bernard McGuinness, the work which was being done there.
Valuable
“I know the value that you as a community place on that nursing home. It does not just serve the people of North Inishowen, it serves 14% of a population over 65 from Muff right up to the Derry border, to Malin Head and throughout Inishowen. It is a massive, massive resource, and it is an integral part of the overall health model of throughout Inishowen.”
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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