Continuing rumours surrounding the future of Mullingar hospital sparked a heated exchange between councillors this week, as they clashed on how best to approach the fight to retain services at the facility.
The altercation culminated in Cllr Paddy Hill branding Fine Gael’s Cllr Colm Arthur the “most political animal” to grace the council chamber in many years, and led to cathaoirleach Fintan Cooney intervening to appeal for an “all-party approach”.
The outburst from the normally mild-mannered Cllr Hill was triggered by Cllr Arthur’s accusation that local Fianna Fail councillors were “scaremongering” on the hospital and may be in possession of more information than they are letting on.
“Fianna Fail councillors are now coming out with similar statements to what we were the year before last. Have they just woken up or do they know something?” asked Rochfortbridge’s Cllr Arthur, who was elected for the first time last June.
Cllr Hill retorted that he didn’t appreciate the insinuation that his party were not doing their bit for the hospital.
“I don’t like the remarks of Cllr Arthur about Fianna Fail councillors waking up. I was outside doing my bit for Mullingar hospital before you were heard of. It is a great hospital...Fianna Fail has a proud record regarding health services. You’re the most political animal to come into the council in my time here,” he told Cllr Arthur.
Attempting to diffuse the situation, cathaoirleach Cllr Fintan Cooney emphasised the importance of approaching the hospital issue on an inter-party basis.
“It is an all-party issue and we will approach it as such. The rumour mill is that services will be cut, and it is important that as members we stand united...The Midland Regional Hospital crisis is a community crisis, that is the general consensus,” he said.
Cllr Hill, from Castletown-Finea, added that he felt councillors needed to be more responsible regarding public fear about the hospital’s future.
“We are still dealing with a lot of rumour. If there are going to be changes in Mullingar hospital, let the HSE spell it out now. There is fear being sent out that the Midland Regional Hospital is going to be closed down - maybe councillors need to be more responsible.”
Meanwhile a protest march planned by local Labour party representatives for next Saturday June 12 is being publicly supported by several councillors across the party divide.
A separate letter-writing campaign is being spearheaded by Fianna Fail’s Cllr Robert Troy, who is encouraging people to get in touch with their local Oireachtas member or representative on the HSE Forum to express their support.
However, Cllr Mick Dollard has hit out at the campaign, saying that HSE Forum members, himself included, have no power in relation to policy-making. Cllr Dollard believes “the time for tweeting and blogging is long over”, and is encouraging locals to join in the protest on June 12.
“I would appeal to everybody in Westmeath who is in a position to do so, to attend this march, as your presence will send a clear and unequivocal message to this Government and the HSE, hands off our hospital.”
