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Report: Inishowen Independent
SEVERAL people spoke
out during the recent public meeting to discuss
fears about the future of Carndonagh Community
Hospital. Here is a selection of views from the
floor:
“Will the people of Inishowen sit back and accept
cuts to the most vulnerable in our society? I say
no.” – Mary Gillen, Carn Branch Alzheimer’s’ Society
“If we were to lose an institution like Carndonagh
Hospital, it would never come back.” – Dr John
Madden, local GP.
“If a facility could be put in place in Carn during
Famine times, it would be a poor reflection on us
were we to close it now.” – Andrew Ward, Inishowen
Development Partnership.
“The closure of the Carn hospital won’t aid the
health of women (or men). Where will patients be
moved to?” Ann Connolly, Moville ICA.
“I have read the HIQA reports from 2009 and 2011 and
there’s nothing in them which justifies the closure
of Carn Hospital. We must ensure community hospitals
aren’t taken from us.” – Betty Holmes, Donegal
Action for Cancer Care.
“People like my father worked all their lives and
now we’re going to throw them to the street?” – John
Duffy
“I cared for my mother for ten years before she
moved to Carn Hospital in June 2010. The health
nurse told me that I was just a month away from a
breakdown. What happens to people who find
themselves in a position like I was in if Carn
Hospital closes?” – Una Farren, Arthritis
Association, Culdaff
“Our TDs need to back the people. They’re getting
crazy money in the Dáil. What’s going on? They need
to waken up.” – Declan Harkin, Quigley’s Point.
“HIQA was established by the Government and the
Government can change its remit at any time. The
Government hides behind the HSE and the HSE hides
behind HIQA. HSE bureaucracy has failed Carn
Hospital, which has been starved of investment for
the past three or four years. The Government needs
to give us the investment and secure the future of
Carn Hospital.” – Joe Hegarty, Carndonagh
“Carn Hospital offers a whole host of clinics which
saves us running to Letterkenny which is a long
trek. If the hospital is under threat, those clinics
would be too. How can we prevent the chipping away
of these clinics and jobs?” – Sue Rowland.
“Dr Madden said that there has been a hospital in
Carn since the 1840s. But people paid their rent and
rates at that time. And until people today pay their
dues, including rent and rates, there won’t be
services.” – Noel McLaughlin, Malin.
“It is inconceivable that there can be more cuts in
Carn. Some people have mentioned Roscommon hospital.
But Inishowen isn’t like Roscommon because we can’t
go to another hospital a couple of miles away.” –
Andrew Ward, IDP.
Read previous story:
Call for Carn
Hospital Action Committee |
