Election is a referendum on Portiuncula Hospital – Naughten

In Health, South Roscommon by Denis Naughten

The general election has been described as a referendum on the future of Portiuncula Hospital by Fine Gael’s Denis Naughten.

He was speaking following Micheal Martin’s confirmation that the reconfiguration of services by the HSE involving Portiuncula Hospital “isn’t over” and must be allowed to “take its course”.

“This election is a referendum on the hospital. If people want the reconfiguration of services – which would lead to the downgrading of services – to continue then they should vote Fianna Fail.

“If they want the exact opposite and to see services retained and enhanced then they need to vote for Fine Gael,” stated Denis Naughten, Fine Gael’s Deputy Health Spokesperson.

“Fine Gael has set out a clear alternative to the reconfiguration proposed by the HSE as a direct result of Fianna Fail policy. The future of Portiuncula Hospital is secure under Fine Gael.

“Under our proposals the future of services at Portiuncula Hospital will be determined locally. We want to have a local board appointed by staff, patients and the community to run the hospital in conjunction with local management and not have it run by faceless bureaucrats within the HSE.

“Fine Gael is the only party with a plan to reform the health service as a whole. A vote for Fine Gael is a vote for Portiuncula Hospital,” concluded Denis Naughten.