SINN Féin is calling on
the Health Minister James Reilly to "make his
position clear" on the removal of a cancer bus for
seriously ill patients in Co Donegal.
Deputy Pádraig MacLochlainn said senior HSE
officials had taken the blame for the "debacle" but
that it was "the relentless cutbacks ordered by the
Minister and his Government that have been the
actual cause”.
“The removal of Marley’s bus service has been only
the latest cutback by the HSE that impacts on our
most vulnerable ill or disabled people. In Donegal,
we have witnessed substantial cutbacks to home help
hours across the county; closure of beds across our
community and general hospital network; cutbacks to
respite hours for the disabled and their families
and much more. All of this has been done to meet the
demands of Minister Reilly and his Government," he
said.
The Buncrana-based TD said the people elected Fine
Gael yet they were "failing us".
"I am now calling on Minister Reilly to make his
position clear on this issue. When he demands
cutbacks, is there any service that is untouchable
or is it open season for even services to our most
needy and vulnerable?
"In the absence of clarification, I am calling on
local Fine Gael and Labour representatives to demand
that their Government colleague makes his position
clear." |
