SINN Féin’s finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty has called on the Government and the HSE to “drop the spin” as he revealed no new funding has been approved for the redevelopment of St Joseph’s Hospital in Stranorlar.
The revelation comes after the HSE yesterday announced it was commencing a €4 million “upgrading and refurbishment” programme at the hospital.
Speaking this afternoon, Deputy Doherty said: “Since the announced closure of St Joseph’s Hospital, along with Lifford and Ramelton Community Hospitals, by Fine Gael Minister Jim Daly in February 2016, the community in the Finn Valley has been pleading with the Government and the HSE for an injection of funding to bring the hospital up to current HIQA standards, and to further comply with the recommendation of the Rhatigan Report to secure its long-term future.
“In September last year Minister Joe McHugh announced that St Joseph’s would be included in the HSE’s Capital Plan for 2020 which would facilitate works to bring the hospital up to HIQA standards.
Pearse Doherty TD. Photo: Declan Doherty
“Yesterday the HSE announced a funding package for the redevelopment of St Joseph’s, to the tune of €4 million. This news was rightly met with skepticism by the local community and representatives of the ‘Save Our St Joseph’s’ action group because of the history of false
and broken promises by the HSE and the last Government.
“I immediately contacted representatives from the HSE to clarify the position and I can reveal that there has been no new approval for additional works at St Joseph’s. Yesterday’s announcement is simply a repeat of September’s announcement of works to bring
the hospital up to existing HIQA standards.
“While I very much welcome the commencement of these works, it must be acknowledged and clarified that, at this stage, there has been no approval granted for progression to the design stage for the full redevelopment of St Joseph’s which would finally secure the
long-term future of the hospital.
“It is clear that yesterday’s announcement is nothing more than an attempt to curry favour three weeks out from a General Election. It’s time for the Government to drop the spin, approve the funding for the redevelopment of the hospital and get this work started.”
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)