Hospital campaigners scare-mongering, says Drumm

THOSE campaigning against plans to overhaul the way acute services are delivered in the north-east are “scare-mongering and acting in their own self-interest,” Health Service Executive chief Prof Brendan Drumm insisted yesterday.

Prof Drumm told the Dáil Health Committee those advocating the retention of existing hospital services in the region were doing a disservice to their community and doing nothing to help introduce better services.

The meeting was also attended by Health Minister Mary Harney, who also criticised vested interests who, she claimed, were using vulnerable patients to get the Government to change its course in reforming the health service. Ms Harney said if somebody thought they could enhance their reputation by getting her to overturn something that was in the patients’ interest, they could think again.