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EMYVALE

D-day October 1st

Our last post, asked serious questions but we have a very serious question now. The date given for the reduction in hours at Monaghan Minor injuries Unit is October 1st. That is only a couple of weeks away and we still do not know if the Minister is going to stop it or allow it to proceed.

Prior to the election both Fine Gael and Labour promised to maintain current services at the very least in Monaghan General Hospital. Are they going to break that promise? I suppose we cannot be surprised if they do as they have broken their promises to Roscommon. However we read that the Fine Gael party in Roscommon is in turmoil with more resignations on the cards. Again we look with envy at other areas where the people are represented by public representatives who are prepared to stand-up with the people they represent.

Our representatives are very quiet – where are those who were so vociferous when in opposition. Let them not use the economic situation as an excuse for silence and inaction. They did not accept that excuse from the Government in power then so why should we accept it from them now.

There are ways to solve this problem and produce a plan which can be replicated in other areas. Or are we to accept that there are going to be 40 + patients on trolleys in Cavan and Drogheda (our alternatives) and that we should be part of that, Or that we should take our chances on being part of the statistic, which says that about 400 Irish patients will die due to the overcrowding in our A & Es, Or will be just take our chances on getting better without the assistance of medical staff by staying at home.

Once again we call on our Fine Gael representatives to come out and do what they were elected to do – represent the needs of the people of this area and that means a lot more than seems to be happening at the moment, because if they dither then it will be too late and nothing will be restored but more will be taken. Let the authorities know that we mean business.