Latest news with #RegionalHealthForumWest
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Frustrations in Galway at HSE's ‘disgraceful' delay in disposal of buildings on derelict hospital site
At a meeting of the Regional Health Forum West on Tuesday, May 27, Fine Gael's Cllr Alan Harney said the HSE has failed 'abysmally' in relation to these buildings. The councillor said it's 'absolutely disgraceful' that the HSE has been served a Derelict Sites notice for these buildings following multiple pleas for engagement with local authorities. Cllr Harney said we need to 'see action' and 'immediate works' under way, and not further delays. He also noted the opportunity to transform one of these buildings into a health centre which is needed for the local Ballinasloe community. After a recent fire on the hospital campus, Cllr Harney noted an increase in security around the Ballinasloe site's vicinity, which he did applaud the HSE for. A response to Cllr Harney's request for updated information on the disposal of the site was answered by Niall Colleary, the HSE's Assistant National Director for Capital and Estates. 'The HSE are aiming to have a sales agent selected before the end of June to manage the disposal process for St Brigid's,' he said. 'The campus is not in compliance with Section 58 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as the HSE has recently been served with a Derelict Sites notice. 'The HSE have engaged with the local authority in relation to this matter with a view to reaching agreement on a pragmatic approach to addressing the issues.' However, as Mr Colleary, or any other representative for Capital and Estates, wasn't in attendance at the meeting, Ann Cosgrove, the HSE's Integrated Healthcare Area Manager for Galway and Roscommon, assured Cllr Harney that the HSE is 'intent to move forward' with their strategy to destroy these properties. ADVERTISEMENT 'We need to keep it moving forward to get the best possible outcomes,' Ms Cosgrove said. Cllr Harney also expressed his annoyance at no representatives from Capital and Estates being in attendance at the meeting, saying he noted that there is 'no one here from estates which seems to be a common occurrence at these meetings'. Later in the meeting, following numerous questions directed at the HSE's Capital and Estates department, the Regional Health Forum West's Chairperson Cllr Ciaran Brogan asked if it is made a priority that a representative from that department be present at next month's meeting.
RTÉ News
02-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Donegal cancer campaigners hold 'positive' meeting with minister
Campaigners for improved cancer care services in Co Donegal have said they held "a positive meeting" with Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill in Letterkenny. Three protests calling for improved cancer care services were held at Letterkenny University Hospital in the last six weeks. Cancer survivor Roseena Doherty Toner, who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2021, presented Minister MacNeill with 1,200 signatures she collected at two of the three protests in support of their campaign. The mother-of-five from Clonmany in Inishowen said that while hospital staff are "absolutely amazing", she believes LUH does not have the facilities needed to accommodate the area. "It was a positive meeting [with the minister]. We are going to have to wait and see now and hope for the best". "We in the northwest are 250 kilometres from University Hospital Galway. It is too far for a cancer patient to have to travel regarding any cancer treatment". Mrs Doherty Toner said a lot of services are available at LUH. However when the resources available cannot cope with demand, patients are sent to Galway. "The day I was diagnosed and sent to Galway for my treatment was the worst journey of my entire life. "Subsequent journeys were the same. You're not feeling well, you're sick, you're stopping at the side of the road to have to be sick. It's horrendous," she said. Mrs Doherty Toner said families that need to stay overnight must fork out several hundred euro for accommodation. "People in Donegal don't have that kind of money. We are not going to stop campaigning. We have fantastic staff and doctors in Letterkenny, but they're working in facilities that are not fit for purpose. We need upgraded facilities". Minister Carroll MacNeill thanked the campaigners for sharing their personal stories and said she understood the depth of feeling around the matter. "I really recognise that Donegal has experienced that at a deeper level to many other counties for lots of different reasons. It is important to acknowledge that". The Minister said the HSE and LUH management have plans to build on cancer and haematology services. Figures provided at a recent Regional Health Forum West meeting in February showed three in ten cancer patients start treatment within the target timelines at LUH. Minister Carroll MacNeill said the hospital has improved services so that people are getting chemotherapy treatment at an earlier stage.
