Dear Editor
In response to recent letters in your
newspaper on the issue of Roscommon Hospital, I want to repeat again that the
future of the hospital has never been more secure or safe.
In 2011 only 9% of the people with Roscommon addresses used the hospital and
consultants working there had warned that things were spiralling out of
control and could not stand over the safety of patients.
As the only Government TD in the
constituency, I have exercised my influence at the highest level to ensure an
investment programme of €20m 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 on the grounds of 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 have also
included the introduction of a range of new services, which are substantially
increasing activity.
Since July 2011, Roscommon Hospital
is a much safer and much busier hospital. The consultants and management at the
hospital are fully supportive of the changes in the delivery of the type of
services there. Two consultants at hospital have gone on the public record to
confirm categorically that the hospital is safer and busier.
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.
I also fully believe that if I had
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 €200m in infrastructural projects in this constituency.
There is no doubt that 2014 has been
a challenging year for the people of Roscommon. We have been coming out of 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.
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.
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.
Now I think 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 saved many lives and jobs in the hospital and
history will prove me right.
Yours Sincerely,
Frank Feighan, TD
