SINN FÉIN TDS DELIVER SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PLEDGE ON MONAGHAN HOSPITAL VISIT

The retention and development of services at Monaghan Hospital remains a Sinn Féin priority, said the party’s Health Spokesperson David Cullinane TD and Cavan/Monaghan Dáil Deputy Matt Carthy when they visited the hospital on Monday last. Deputy Cullinane, who represents the Waterford constituency and was appointed as the Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Health following the 2020 General Election, said that local hospitals such as Monaghan could play an important role in alleviating pressures on larger hospitals as well as providing important services to local communities.

Deputy Cullinane pointed out that he was launching a discussion document entitled “Priorities for Change in Health and Social Care” on Friday. “The document is the result of engagements undertaken by myself and other Sinn Féin representatives who have portfolio responsibilities in these areas, including Cavan/Monaghan TD Pauline Tully, who is the party Spokesperson on Disabilities,” he stated.

On Monday last Deputies Cullinane and Carthy met with hospital management and staff to receive an update on the current service provision at Monaghan Hospital and proposals for future enhancement and development of this service. Deputy Carthy observed that he had been a leading voice in the campaign to extend the opening hours of the Minor Injuries Unit at the hospital and had received Dáil backing from Deputy Cullinane.

“On Monday we learned that the extension has been a fantastic success and benefit to the local community,” said Deputy Carthy. “We also endorsed the proposition that a MRI scanner be secured for the Hospital.” The TDs were joined at the hospital by local Councillors Cathy Bennett and Brian McKenna who stressed to their party’s Health Spokesperson that the withdrawal of services from Monaghan Hospital by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael continued to have detrimental impacts. Speaking after the meeting with hospital management and staff, the Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson told the Northern Standard….