A major protest march concerning the retention of services at Roscommon County Hospital which takes place in Roscommon town on Saturday afternoon next is expected to attract large crowds. The march/rally is being organised by Roscommon County Council and has been described as an ‘apolitical’ event. Groups and associations throughout the area have been written to and urged to participate in the march, which is expected to feature on RTE television news that night. The march takes place against a backdrop of ongoing concern about the future of Roscommon Hospital. Fianna Fail are not taking a direct role in the march and the party’s county councillors refused to sign a letter supporting the march. However some Fianna Fail elected representatives may attend in a personal capacity. Cllr. Martin Connaughton of Fianna Fail told the Roscommon People that he would be attending. Deputy Michael Finneran said in a statement: ‘Fianna Fáil is not directly involved in the proposed march on Saturday, 17th November and will not have any official presence from Oireachtas members, county councillors, or party members. ‘The people of Roscommon have already marched to the polling booths last May where they gave 10,000 number one votes on the policy outlined by the Taoiseach and myself on Roscommon County Hospital. It is a matter for individual members and supporters of the party to attend the march if they so wish.’ Meanwhile the HAC (Hospital Action Committee) have spoken out on the latest concerns about the hospital ahead of Saturday’s march. In a statement, the HAC said: ‘The amalgamation of services (surgery and anaesthetics) is still under consideration at Roscommon County Hospital. ‘The Health Service Executive say they want this implemented by the end of 2007 or early 2008. The consultants are opposed to this and have said this will lead to the loss of lives in Roscommon. But they are under increasing pressure to agree to the amalgamations of services. ‘So yet again there is a call on the people of Roscommon to come out and demonstrate that we say ‘hands off our services’ and ‘hands off our lives’. ‘The people of Roscommon have consistently sent the message to government that they insist on the retention of services at the County Hospital but the government has a hearing problem and this message is not getting through. Well, Roscommon will visually show them on Saturday Nov. 17th that we say hands off our services and hands off our lives. Maybe the government’s eyesight is better than their hearing. ‘Services cannot and should not be withdrawn from smaller hospitals on the presumption that bigger hospitals will deliver a better service. It is simply not true that bigger hospitals deliver a better service even if we can access them or their car parks. Bigger is not always better. ‘Roscommon Hospital and small hospitals in general effectively deal with 95% of cases that come through their door. The other 5% are transferred to centres that can cater for them. By continuing to do this regional hospitals can also effectively deal with their cases. ‘Smaller hospitals are needed and we in Roscommon will not accept any downgrading of services. ‘No matter what the government or our Fianna Fail TD say any amalgamation of surgical and anaesthetics services between Roscommon and Portiuncula will lead to a downgrading of services at Roscommon. ‘Roscommon people are entitled to have their lives saved at their county hospital if they have a heart attack, an accident, a stroke. This government or no TD can deny us this but unfortunately we in Roscommon have to demonstrate to both the government and Fianna Fail next Saturday at the Hospital Rally that Roscommon lives are valuable and deserve to be saved.’ The Mayor of Roscommon, Cllr. John Kelly says: ‘As Mayor I accept that this is the most important issue to face all the people of County Roscommon. To enable every resident of County Roscommon to demonstrate their opposition to the removal of lifesaving services from Roscommon County Hospital a rally/march is being organised on Saturday 17th November, to support the retention of Acute Surgical Services at Roscommon County Hospital. ‘This is your last chance to make your opposition to these proposals known nationally and send a message that the people of County Roscommon will not accept any transfer of life saving services. In the last few weeks, three young people’s lives were saved, only because they received immediate acute medical services at the hospital. ‘I urge every individual and organisation to make the time and effort to participate in this Rally, which will assemble at Roscommon County Hospital at 1.00 pm on Saturday, 17th November.’
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