Councillors heated exchange over Sacred Heart Hospital closure

Councillors in heated exchange over Sacred Heart Hospital plans


Ciara Galvin
ciaragalvin@mayonews.ie

“It’s far too serious an issue to play politics with.” That was Fianna FΡil Councillor Al McDonnell’s reply to Mayor of Castlebar Brendan Heneghan’s claim that a recent rally about the Sacred Heart Closure was ‘politically motivated’. The Mayor released a statement on May 27 last, the day of a planned rally at the hospital expressing that he would not attend a rally organised by Fianna FΡil ‘in disguise’.
Speaking to The Mayo News Cllr McDonnell stated that if Fianna FΡil were playing politics they would have waited until the deadline had passed before putting pressure on the Government.
“The Mayor’s claim doesn’t even deserve a response. It’s a far too serious issue to play politics with.
There were people of all political persuasions at the rally last week and there were no political banners as far as I’m concerned,” said McDonnell.
The councillor stated that if Fianna Faíl were in power now and the Sacred Heart Hospital was under threat, ‘I’d be on the street calling for funding’.
Over 400 signatures were collected at the rally last week calling for the retention of services at the hospital.
Issuing a statement about the matter, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he was aware that the hospital has been ‘the subject of some public discussion’.
“Late last year, Minister for Health James Reilly and I visited the hospital where we met with officials and heard their views as to the future direction the hospital should take. I also met with Fine Gael Town Councillors recently regarding this issue and have undertaken to update them again as soon as possible,” the statement detailed.
Contacting the HSE in relation to the retention of services at the hospital, The Mayo News was furnished with a statement outlining the up to date situation of the funding application. “The hospital was built in 1970 and has had numerous upgrades and improvements made over the years. It now requires further modernisation to ensure it delivers its high quality services in a high quality environment.
A submission has been made to the HSE National Capital Steering Committee for funding for significant refurbishment of the Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar. We are awaiting a decision on this application.”
Further on in his statement the Mayor said he and his fellow party colleagues Cllr Deere, Cllr Mc Cormack and Cllr Heston have met regularly with HSE Management  to ‘see how we can advance the case for all local health services’.
Cllr McDonnell outlined that another rally will be held on June 30 next, exactly two years to the date that the hospital could face closure in 2015.

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