Sir, – It’s a bit rich to have to listen to Micheál Martin’s pseudo-righteousness in his denunciation of Enda Kenny’s betrayal of Roscommon. I stood beside the then minister of health on the steps of Monaghan Hospital as he promised 700 or so townspeople, “We will not downgrade your hospital!”
When we get rid of politicians meddling in health and so-called managers who wouldn’t know a patient if they fell over one – we might sort out the delivery of health in this country. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – To say that an out-of-hours emergency skeleton service for Roscommon, to treat critically ill patients, is comparable to a fully equipped hospital already available in the area is outrageous.
I worked as a medical doctor on the wards and in the A&E department on Roscommon County Hospital, under the tutelage and guidance of excellent consultant medical physicians. I can testify to the superb, dedicated and expert care provided by the excellent medical, surgical and nursing staff, in tending to the many critically ill patients brought in to A&E. There is no doubt an excellent standard of 24-hour care was provided. In my time working in A&E, we managed acute emergencies every day and night, including cardiac arrests, acute shock, acute hypothermia, diabetic coma, acute head injuries, pulmonary emboli and severe road traffic accidents. The standard of care provided by Roscommon County Hospital was and is certainly equal to the medical services provided in the many different hospitals I have worked in around Ireland.
I am appalled and shocked at the closure of the A&E services from 8pm to 8am, a night-time service that is a vital lifeline to the people of Roscommon and its surrounding areas. This is a deleterious retrograde step for the hospital and for the Irish medical services. To say that patients will receive the same standards of care as previously, as they endure a two- to three-hour journey (depending on where they are coming from in the catchment area) to Galway, depending on weather and traffic, is an outright lie.
I do wonder who will take the blame for any deaths or deleterious consequences to patients’ health that might occur from the appalling downgrade of this service? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Of course Deputy Naughten voted against the Government. He promised his constituents when he was campaigning for their votes before the general election that he would defend Roscommon General Hospital and that is exactly what he has done. He was doing the job he was elected to do.
It seems to me that this business of being told by your party leader how you are going to vote is simply undemocratic. Being censured and losing your position in the party because you are standing up for the people who elected you is just plain childish.
I congratulate Deputy Naughten and until there are more deputies like him, nothing is going to change in Irish politics and therefore in Ireland. Just imagine what could have happened if some of the members of Fianna Fáil and the Green Party had broken ranks and voted against the Bank Guarantee.
Now, sadly, there is food for thought. – Yours, etc,