Members of the Save Our Hospital Services Committee which is campaigning for the retention of Acute Medical Services at Louth County Hospital together with members of Dundalk Town Council met with Ministers Ahern and Harney, who were accompanied by a number of HSE officials,  in the Dáil yesterday evening, 2nd December 09.

The purpose of the meeting was to facilitate the Save Our Hospital Services Committee and a number of Town Councillors to ask the Ministers not to proceed with their plan to remove acute medical services from the Louth County Hospital.

Deputy Arthur Morgan, chair of the Committee said following the meeting :-

"Unfortunately and tragically for the people of Dundalk and surrounding areas the two government ministers insisted that their plan to remove our essential services from the hospital would continue.  They tried to wash their hands of the matter."

"The meeting generated into a further discussion on the government Transformation Plan.  The Ministers confirmed that our Accident and Emergency and Intensive Care Unit would be replaced by a Minor Injuries Unit and Ambulatory Care.  We find this is not acceptable and we told them so.  We pointed out that a town the size of Dundalk with it's population and catchments area of 100,000 need and are entitled to proper acute medical services.

Committee Spokesperson, Anita McCann, said :-

"We came away disappointed by what we heard from the Ministers but determined to carry on the fight on behalf of the people of Dundalk to save our essential hospital services and will be meeting soon to plan the next steps in our campaign."

For further comment contact Arthur Morgan at 087-8334113 or Anita McCann at 086-2590453