Patsy McGlone 8th June 2010

McGlone: McGimpsey refuses meeting on Mid-Ulster hospital

SDLP Mid-Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone said Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has refused to meet him to discuss the fallout from the closure of A&E at the Mid-Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt.

He said: “I am disappointed if not terribly surprised but an awful lot of people in East Tyrone and South Derry will be absolutely infuriated. This decision just dropped out of the sky without any local consultation and now the Minister won’t talk to the people.

“Everyone thought we had an orderly transfer plan matched by an appropriate build-up of services at Antrim Area Hospital. We haven’t got that and all the evidence is that Antrim is under strain. Nor do we have any clear picture of what sort of services will be retained in Magherafelt.

“The Minister is running from his responsibilities. Trying to fob me off with a meeting with the Chief Executive of the Northern Trust is not on. The decision was the Minister’s and it has consequences for which he must be answerable.”

 

ENDS