Taking issue with Roscommon hospital claim

REGARDING Michael Clifford’s article titled Politicians Pandering to Healthcare Fears (July 2), I take issue with his flippant statement in the last paragraph: ”The ultimate result of all this cowardice is that vast tracts of the population would rather have a substandard level of care on their doorstep than travel a relatively short distance for the best care on offer. It’s a sad reflection on both governors and the governed.”

With the closing of Roscommon Hospital A&E the ‘relatively short distance’ is 125km to University Hospital Galway. Mr Clifford does not take into account that many people using the A&E drive half an hour or more to reach Roscommon Hospital.

Also, Mr Clifford did not address icy roads, or back roads that are not in the best of shape. As everyone in rural Ireland knows, the sanding of every road does not happen when it snows.

So my reply to Mr Clifford’s statement “it’s a sad reflection” on the people of Roscommon is — he is correct. They would rather have a chance to make it to Roscommon alive, than die on the journey to Galway.

It is a shame to read such an obviously slanted opinion from a journalist when people’s lives are at stake.

Geri Durso

Roscommon