TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY faced angry protesters in Athlone today after he was confronted by campaigners who are angry over plans to downgrade the emergency department at Roscommon County Hospital.
RTE reports that Kenny told the 100-strong crowd that he was going to tell them the truth, and that things are not going to be the same as they were at the hospital.
The Taoiseach has confirmed that the department will be downgraded and will not operate at night or at weekends from 11 July reports the Examiner. A shortage of junior doctors from July onwards is causing concern in hospitals around the country with the health minister James Reilly admitting recently that it is a problem which is “growing, growing, growing”.
The Taoiseach has been accused of rowing back on election promises over the hospital at Roscommon, while the Fianna Fáil members of Roscommon County Council, along with the Independent Councillors Alliance Group have demanded an urgent meeting with Kenny.
It’s emerged today that the health minister has told the HSE that all hospitals must operate within their budgets for the rest of the year, while the board of Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin has warned that it’s heading towards a financial crisis.
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