Argus Newspaper - Lourdes rated worst hospital in Ireland
Written by Louthhospital.com Webmaster
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 16:44
From the Argus Newspaper on 20th Jan 2010
OUR Lady of Lourdes Hospital has once again been rated the worst in the country. The Drogheda hospital is the only one in Ireland to receive an unsatisfactory rating in the latest HSE HealthStat report.
Our Lady of Lourdes, which was also graded as red in previous reports, scored particularly poorly for the management of its resources. As of October 2009, the hospital was 3 million over its allocation for its year-to-date budget, spending just over 92 million. Also, the hospital was over its staff ceiling, and had missed the 3.5% national target for total staff absenteeism.
The Save Our Hospital Services Committee met on Monday evening of this week and has been taken stock of the ongoing threats to Acute Services in Louth County Hospital. Speaking after the meeting, Anita McCann said;
"There is no doubt that 2009 was the year that the people of this area stood together and gave a clear message that the government's plans for closing acute services are unacceptable. Hundreds packed Dundalk Town Hall and thousands marched through the town to Market Square.
"We as a committee have known for some time that the campaign to save A&E, Acute Medical and Intensive Care services in our hospital would have to be focussed on the government. Transformation is a program of cuts in these services. It is endorsed by the Minister for Health, the government and is being rolled out by the HSE.
"Our target must be the decision makers and we believe the decision makers are in the cabinet. Government politicians, Ministers, TDs and Councillors must get the policy reversed. The people of Dundalk and the surrounding areas have called on them to do this.
"It is an outrage that the Programme for Government contained nothing for our hospital. Dermot Ahern from Fianna Fáil was a negotiator and local Green Party members say they had input to the negotiations. It is unbelievable that these 2 parties represented by local negotiators came up with nothing for our hospital. Jackie Healy Rae was promised a hospital in Kenmare and a cycle path is to be built from Oranmore to Spiddal in County Galway on foot of these negotiations.
"There has been an agreement from HSE officials to meet with Town Councillors and our committee about the planned closures of services. This meeting must be in public and must be an opportunity for the HSE officials to hear that they are carrying out plans that have no support locally. There must be no more closed shop briefings.
"We are now calling on all Town Councillors in Dundalk to sign a declaration that they will not be a member of or support a government party that closes 24 hour Accident &Emergency, Intensive Care or Acute Medical Services. The people of this area have done their bit. The public have given the mandate to everything necessary to save our services. It is now time for the government to realise they will have a political crisis here in Louth if our services are affected.
"Our campaign website, www.louthhospital.com will carry a copy of the declaration with the signatures of Councillors as they are obtained."
Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 January 2010 15:49
Minister Ahern and Fianna Fáil party under preassure on Louth Hospital services issue.
Written by Louthhospital.com Webmaster
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:06
Cllr Tomás Sharkey, vice-chair of the Save The Louth Hospital Services Committee has commented on news that the Fianna Fáil organisation in Louth is fracturing over the hospital issue.
"This morning we had an admission from a FF Councillor that Dr Colm Quigley and Dr Ó Brannagáin, 2 leading masterminds of the impending closure of services at Louth County Hospital came to Dundalk to brief an internal Fianna Fáil meeting on their plans. This is a desparate attempt from Fianna Fáil to stop the resignations from their party over this issue.
"The people of Louth are disgusted that an Independent TD from Kerry and two quasi-Independent Fianna Fáilers in Sligo can gain hospital services for their areas while we are left to suffer. we are also disgusted that these 2 officials from the HSE have yet to respond to a request from Cllr Martin Bellew to attend a meeting of the Forum formed to oppose the cuts. Is it HSE policy to attend Fianna Fáil meetings only?
"Dermot Ahern has seen that the people of this County reject his government's plans to close our services but is unwilling to stand with the people. He has chosen to hide behind officials from the HSE and Mary Harney, and is now trying to train his Fianna Fáil Councillors to be spokespersons for the cuts. He sees that his credibilty locally is ebbing away.
"Dundalk is a small town. We all know of recent resignations from the Fianna Fáil Party over the hospital issue and fully expect that more people will reject the government's disgraceful plans for our hospital. Some months ago it became clear that theses cuts were being given political cover by Fianna Fáil and Green Party Councillors, TDs and Ministers. This betrayal of the wishes of the people of Louth must stop and government representatives must declare their intentions to walk over the hospital issue."
Community Involvement in Planning Hospital Services
Written by Louthhospital.com Webmaster
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 09:59
In recent years there have been major changes in the organisation of health and social care services on both sides of the border. Many of the services based in border region hospitals will be – or have already been – moved to new locations. Some of these services are now being delivered in community settings. Some services have been centralised in larger regional hospitals.
How have these changes affected your community?
Do you know the reasons for the reorganisation of hospital services?
Do you agree with the changes?
Do you think hospital services or other health services could or should be delivered on a cross border basis?
How can local communities influence the decision-making process?
The Centre for Cross Border Studies (CCBS) has been awarded funding from the EU INTERREG IVA Programme to carry out research about how community involvement has influenced planning around hospital services in the border area. Alongside this research is a study now being carried out on behalf of CCBS by consultants Horwath Bastow Charleton to explore where hospital services could be located to most effectively meet the needs of people living in the border region. As part of this research, CCBS is visiting a number of border communities to gather the views of local people. Come and have your say. Please complete the registration form attached and return it to:
Save Our Hospital Services
