Politicians unite over Bantry hospital

FIANNA Fáil and Fine Gael councillors in west Cork have united in calling for a massive turnout at a protest against proposed cuts at Bantry General Hospital.

The call was made yesterday by members of the council’s western division, several of whom said they would be attending the protest at harbour View, Bantry, at 2pm on Saturday.

Standing orders were suspended yesterday as councillors debated the downgrading of the hospital.

Last week, the HSE admitted it would have to make cuts because of a budget overrun of €1 million.

The HSE said no firm decisions had yet been made on exactly where the cuts would come.

However, Bantry-based Cllr John O’Shea (FG) told shocked colleagues that last Friday four surgical beds were closed at the hospital.

“It’s proposed to close six more beds before the end of April. Also 12 staff are to go before the end of April.

“But most importantly, there’s likely to be a cut in 24-hour surgical services. If that’s done away with, we will have no casualty department at the hospital,” Mr O’Shea said.

He added that other cost-cutting measures included offering staff unpaid leave. He said: “The HSE and their political masters are more interested in saving money in Bantry than saving lives.”

Cllr O’Shea said he was concerned that even more cuts would come in Bantry and in other hospitals around the country from the budget on April 7.

Cllr John Collins (FG) said any downgrading of the hospital represented a very serious issue for the people of west Cork.

“People are paying voluntary health insurance to the VHI and Quinn-Healthcare and there won’t be any services for them down here. The insurers should get involved in this,” Cllr Tadhg O’Donovan (FG) said.

Cllr Danny Crowley (FF) said he would also attend the protest march. “I am urging everybody to come out,” he said.

Cllr Dermot Sheehan (FG) said: “The community served by Bantry General Hospital is getting a kick in a teeth.”

Mr Crowley said the local electorate deserve to know the full facts about any proposed cuts.

“We should urge people from all over west Cork and south Kerry to come to the march,” Mr Crowley said.

Cllr John Collins said the protest march would show that people are saying hands off their hospital.

“We all have a shared concern about Bantry General Hospital. Collectively the message from this committee is we don’t want to see any downgrading,” Cllr Donal O’Rourke (FF) said.

Party colleague Cllr Pat Murphy said councillors want to preserve and even improve hospital services.