Angry councillors aim to meet HSE over hospital cuts

Members of Westmeath and Longford County Councils are to seek a meeting with senior management of the Health Service Executive, to discuss concerns over the future of the Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar.The decision was taken after a heated joint meeting of Westmeath and Longford County Councils on Monday, where politicians from both counties learned that the HSE has said that the twelve staff who were last week to be axed have instead been put on "protective leave".Following discussions with hospital manager, Mr. Trevor O'Callaghan, Dublin/Mid-Leinster Regional Health Forum chairman Cllr. Mick Dollard said that the staff had been placed on protective leave, following talks between the HSE and trade union representatives.He said that Mr. O'Callaghan had informed him that although the hospital's funding had been reduced by €1.8 million over 2008 figures, the facility had managed to stay well within its budget, and had "broke even in 2008".The special meeting of Westmeath and Longford councillors was called on Monday to address "rumours" over the future of Mullingar Hospital, with specific concerns raised about the fate of the hospital's baby unit, accident and emergency services and a proposed reduction of beds.Councillors decided that Longford and Westmeath members of the Regional Health Forum - which includes the Westmeath trio of Cllrs Peter Burke, Mick Dollard and Aidan Davitt - be sent to meet the HSE's senior management.They agreed that Mullingar Hospital's record of performance justified the continued provision of high quality services.Cllr. Fintan Cooney, chairman of Westmeath County Council, said that with a catchment population of 110,000, the eighth busiest maternity unit in the country, and thousands of admissions on an annual basis, any reports of a downgrade at Mullingar Hospital is "not insignificant"."People working at Mullingar Hospital must have security, and a commitment from the HSE on the future of the hospital," Cllr. Cooney said.