Cheers and jeers for Taoiseach

Cheers and jeers for Kenny at Swinford hospital


Rowan Gallagher and Trevor Quinn

There was a mixed reception for Enda Kenny at Swinford District Hospital on Friday. On his arrival to the opening of a €3.4 million hospital extension at the site, the Taoiseach was met by around 20 demonstrators from the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee.
The demontrators, who were protesting against the closure of the A&E department at Roscommon County Hospital, heckled the Taoiseach. Carrying placards saying ‘RIP Fine Gael in Roscommon’, they shouted ‘shame, shame’.
The new extension at the Swinford hospital consists of six six-bed wards and four single, ensuite rooms. It also includes a day room, nurses’ station and staff facilities. 
Officially opening the facility, Mr Kenny said: “This [extension] has enhanced this hospital for everyone, and it gives the staff here the opportunity to demonstrate their training.”
Swinford District Hosptital provides ‘step down’ facilities for patients discharged from Mayo General Hospital who require a further period of convalescence before being discharged home or being identified as requiring a long-stay bed in a Community Nursing Unit.
Mr Kenny highlighted the importance of the service that the facility provides: “It is important to remember the demographic of the country – over 65s make up 11 per cent of the population, and this is set to increase from around 500,000 to 1.3 million people in the next 40 years. We need the systems in place to deal with this for the future.”
An Taoiseach said that Fine Gael is committed to rural hospitals like Swinford District Hospital. Commenting on Roscommon County Hospital, however, Mr Kenny stated that there would be no U-turn on the government’s decision. “I would like to be able to go around the country and tell everyone that everything is alright, but it is not. This is a challenging time for Ireland,” he said.
Roscommon Independent Cllr Valarie Byrne was among the demonstrators in Swinford on the day. Speaking to The Mayo News, he criticised Enda Kenny, stating that his government’s policies would lead to deaths in Roscommon.
“We are out here today (Friday) to give a voice to the people of Roscommon who could die as a result of the closure of our A&E services. It is not like we are demanding that we need a new facility – we just want to keep the one we have. The simple truth is that government policy is going to lead to unnecessary deaths.”
Fianna FΡil Spokesperson on Justice Dara Calleary told The Mayo News that although it was a great day for Mayo and Swinford, Fine Gael had reneged on a promise made to the people of Roscommon. “There was a promise by Fine Gael prior to the election to retain services at Roscommon hospital, and that has been noted,” he said.
However, Mr Calleary welcomed the Swinford facility. “For every patient that can be moved to Swinford a bed is freed up in Mayo General, and that can only be a good thing,” stated Mr Calleary.
TD John O’Mahoney added that the new facility bodes well for the future of this type of health-care provision. “It is a great day for Swinford and shows that there is a great future for these kinds of facilities around the country. The transformation is here for all to see … The real winners here are the patients.”
Elsewhere on Friday, over 1,000 people manned bridges across the River Shannon in a strategic attempt to coincide with rush-hour traffic. Campaigners staged pickets at Athlone, Ballyleague, Rooskey and Tarmonbarry in Roscommon in protest over the A & E closure.
Roscommon Action Committee Chairman John McDermott has stated that the group plans to continue its campaign over the closure of the emergency department.

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