The people of Athlone are flexing their political muscle to force the Government to provide a general hospital in the town. The dispute may become a major issue in the next general election.
A protest march to have the hospital in Athlone upgraded was held a fortnight ago. The man behind this most recent campaign - Athlone has been attempting to have its hospital upgraded since the 1960s - believes the time has come.
Mr Miley O'Neill, a retired businessman, believes the Government must upgrade St Vincent's Hospital to a general hospital because of the growth of Athlone.
Currently, patients from Athlone go to Tullamore or Mullingar to be treated inside their own health board region or to Portiuncula in Ballinasloe.
Mr O'Neill believes the Government will be forced to listen to the demands of the people of the town. The march, he said, had sent a clear message to the local resident Minister, Mrs O'Rourke, and other politicians that the provision of a general hospital would be an election issue.
This view was shared by local councillors, Mr Mark Cooney and Mr Nickie McFadden of Fine Gael, Mr Kevin Moran of Fianna Fail and the independent councillor, Mr Breffni Rowan.
Cllr McFadden, who is being tipped as a Fine Gael candidate at the next election, said the provision of a general hospital was the single biggest political issue in the town.
Mrs O'Rourke had sent a press release to Mr O'Neill sometime before the march quoting the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, as saying that the upgrading of Athlone hospital was in line with the development of the health services under the National Development Plan 2001-2006.