|
|
Fears for 100 hospital jobs
27.07.10
|
AN Inishowen councillor
has described as "deeply worrying" reports that jobs
will be lost and wards closed at Letterkenny General
Hospital.
Cllr Pádraig MacLochlainn said the jobs of up to 100
so-called 'temporary' staff, who have not served
over four years and who do not have permanent
contracts, are 'under serious threat'. He said a
number of wards are threatened with short term and
possibly longer closure.
"Are Mary Harney and the HSE seriously suggesting to
the people of Donegal that these savage cuts and
more to come in the budget will maintain the levels
of professionalism required from a modern health
service? How are the management and staff at
Letterkenny General Hospital supposed to cope with
this HSE directive?" he asked.
He said he believed a large number of nurses were to
be included among those losing their jobs. |
"Where does that leave
the nursing department at Letterkenny Institute of
Technology? Where now for the vision of top quality
nurses trained to the specific requirements of the
Irish health service? This is an outrage."
He added: "The staff are just |
 |
devastated across the
hospital today. One staff member described the
atmosphere as 'like a funeral parlour'. They deserve
better than this.
"A delegation from my party including Senator Pearse
Doherty, Cllrs Gerry McMonagle, Mick Quinn and
myself, met with hospital management a few months
back and we expressed our view then and I repeat it
now that they share our commitment to the people of
Donegal and their entitlement to a top quality
modern health service.
"The hospital management are not to blame for this
debacle. The responsibility lies full square at the
door of this Government, Minister Mary Harney and
senior HSE management." |
|
