West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Ambulance cuts further depletion of acute health provision in Omagh - Fitzgerald

Published: 11 August, 2008

Sinn Féin Mid Tyrone councillor and chairperson of Omagh District councils healthcare committee Anne Maire Fitzgerald has said recent cuts to ambulance provision in the north will affect many throughout the Omagh District, particularly those living in rural communities.

Fitzgerald said,

"Planned cuts to the ambulance service will devastate people right across the Six Counties. Furthermore the fact that we are being told it is a 'cost saving exercise' is a worrying development

I have serious concerns for rural communities throughout the Omagh district following the announcement of planned cuts. When we take into account the depletion of acute health provision in the Omagh district along with this further development it is clear that people living in the Omagh district do not have adequate health provision.

With the imminent removal of coronary care from the Tyrone County Hospital as well as mounting speculation surrounding the future of urgent care unit at the TCH local people are feeling exposed terms of healthcare provision.

These proposals will be out for public consultation within weeks and I would call on people to make submissions to that consultation and make their feelings known.ENDS