Nenagh Hospital Action Group Chairman, Christy Hartigan has given a guarded welcome to a recent announcement by Deputy Michael Lowery and warned the people of Tipperary against listening to empty promises being peddled by politicians.
Earlier this week, North Tipperary Independent Dáil Deputy, Michael Lowry confirmed that following recent discussions with government officials, funding is to be immediately released to begin the necessary work on a new ‘Endoscopy Unit’ at Nenagh hospital. He also announced that funding is now also secured for a new lift system to ensure accessibility to the proposed new surgical theatre suite.
Mr. Hartigan stated:
“In my opinion this is a case of promised money being ‘recycled’. This money has been announced again and again on numerous previous occasions. This has been going on for years and years and its just constantly promise after promise, one after the other”.
He also confirmed that he and his committee would not believe one solitary word from any politician, even if they saw physical 
proof of work actually beginning at Nenagh hospital.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) presently stands correctly accused of prematurely removing essential emergency services from North Tipperary, without firstly providing the promised extra capacity required at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.
It emerged in October last, that the contract for the construction of a new critical care block promised for the regional hospital at Dooradoyle, Limerick, has not been awarded, while the board of the HSE has yet to even approve the project.
Under the reorganisation plan for hospital services in the Mid West Region, which was proposed in the controversial Teamwork Report, 24-hour accident and emergency facilities were removed from Nenagh hospital earlier this year.
The HSE had promised that the Critical Care Block, comprising an Intensive Care Unit, High Dependency Unit and Coronary Care Unit, would be fully provided at the Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle.
It had also been promised that the facility would be commissioned before the end of 2010. However, the HSE has confirmed that it is not now likely to be completed until mid 2011 at the very earliest.
I think our readers can fully understand that Mr. Hartigan’s views are more than justified on this occassion.
What do you our readers think? Your comments please.
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