The future of Roscommon Hospital has never been more secure or safe – Feighan

Roscommon Hospital Fine Gael TD for Roscommon/ South Leitrim, Frank Feighan, has definitively stated that Roscommon Hospital is safer than ever before. He also stated that, as a result of investments made at the hospital in the last four years, the future of the hospital has never been more secure.
“As the only Government TD in the Roscommon/ South Leitrim constituency, I have exercised my influence at the highest level to ensure an investment programme of €20 million is being injected into the hospital. Over the last four years, I have attended hundreds of meetings at every level to ensure the long-term future of the hospital.
“At the heart of these major investment plans for Roscommon Hospital are an Endoscopy Suite, which is due to open in a few months time: a Medical Rehabilitation Centre which will serve the Western region and a major Palliative Care Centre. The plans also include the introduction of a range of new services, which are substantially increasing activity.
“In 2011 only 9% of the people with Roscommon addresses used the hospital and consultants working there had warned that they could not stand over the safety of patients and that things were spiralling out of control.
“If I was interested in safeguarding my political career, I could have taken the easy option and walked away. However, I stood by this country and the people of Roscommon/South Leitrim in very difficult circumstances. Being a politician is not about being liked but about making the right decisions.
“Had I walked away, Roscommon wouldn’t have a voice at the highest level, not just in relation to the hospital but in relation to a range of other important local and national issues such as jobs, farming and infrastructure. I have helped to deliver over €200 million in infrastructural projects in this constituency.
“Since July 2011, Roscommon Hospital is a much safer and much busier hospital. Two consultants at hospital have gone on the public record to confirm categorically that the hospital is safer and busier. The consultants and management at the hospital are fully supportive of the changes in the delivery of the type of services there.
“Four years ago politicians and others said the hospital would close, funds would not be made available and people would die. The hospital is busier than ever, at least 50 lives have been saved by the introduction of the air ambulance and advanced paramedics and the hospital has a secure future.
“It is time for those politicians and political commentators to apologise to the people of Roscommon for misleading them with their false accusations and inaccurate information. They have done more to undermine the confidence of the sterling work that Roscommon Hospital does and cause confusion, unnecessary fear and hysteria with their comments which now have proven unfounded. This issue in the last 4 years has caused me a lot of personal hurt from people who should have known better, however I know that my actions have helped saved many lives and jobs in the hospital.
“As I have said before, I invite people and politicians to go in and ask the experts working in the hospital about these developments, which have been enhanced by other support services such as the introduction of the successful air ambulance service and advanced paramedics.
“There is no doubt that 2014 was a challenging year for the people of Roscommon. We have emerged from the most difficult recession in the history of the State and this does not happen overnight. Major progress has been made however, the economy is clearly picking up, and the same can be expected for 2015.”
ENDS