A move by the Health Service Executive to impose dramatic changes to acute hospital services in the south east, with South Tipperary General Hospital expected to be a major loser in the process, has been branded 'absolute madness'
Members of South Tipperary County Council on Monday gave their unequivocal support to the ' Save our Hospital'campaign and hit out at the HSE, labelling it as a body that had consistently refused to give straight answers over their plans. The HSE w
as blamed for constantly ignoring South Tipperary County Council and their representatives on the HSE forum for the south.
A 'let them be honest and up front' plea received the widespread support of all twenty six members of the County Council.
The council will now draw up a corporate submission in support of STGH and outline the negative impact it would have on South Tipperary if acute services were transferred and the hospital downgraded. The Council will also call on Oireachtas members to get the HSE to attend a meeting with the County Council.
Chairman Liam Ahearn, a member of the HSE South Forum, said he and other members had consistently tried to get answers from the officials on the reconfiguration process but no answers were forthcoming.
"We just cannot get straight answers from them, it is not satisfactory. You just never get a straight answer from them" he said.
County Manager Ned O'Connor said that there was no doubt that any decision to downgrade the hospital would have huge implications for the county.
He proposed that as stakeholders, the Council would draw up a submission on the hospital and the effects any downgrading would have on the county. There was no doubt but that such a move would have an impact on industry and the quality of life for people living and working in the area
A position paper would be prepared that could be used at a meeting with the HSE who should be invited to the chamber.He said the Oireachtas members were best placed to arrange the meeting.
At the meeting members supported a motion tabled by Cllr. Tom Wood related to the HSE plans for the Clonmel hospital which sought a meeting between all relevant parties.
Cllr. Wood said it was over forty years ago since discussions took place about the location of the acute hospital services in South Tipperary on a single site. It was fifteen years since the agreement was reached between Cashel and Clonmel that the services be located in Clonmel. After having had a conflict between both towns for years, the conflict was now between Clonmel and Waterford/ Kilkenny.
Cllr. Wood said that not only staff were concerned but so too were the people of South Tipperary .
"This is an issue that goes far beyond just the staff of the hospital, this issue concerns everybody," he insisted.
He said that concern was there because at no time over the years had the HSE attended a meeting when asked about the services proposed for Cashel and Clonmel.
