Ministers to be urged to save Alzheimers unit
THE imminent closure of the Alzheimer’s Unit at St John’s Hospital in Sligo town has been branded “inexplicable” and “outrageous”.
Councillor Declan Bree tabled a motion calling on the Council to urge Health Minister Simon Harris and Transport Minister Shane Ross to intervene in the controversy.
“It’s as if Sligo was some part of a third world country,” Cllr Bree told the meeting. “We witnessed the closure of our cancer services only a few short years ago and now we have this decision to close down services for people suffering from dementia.
“The decision speaks volumes about the current Fine Gael – Independent Alliance government. It is a heartless government without any compassion for those who suffer from dementia - for we must remember that behind this proposed closure exist the human faces of all those living with this illness, their family members and their friends.
“Ten years ago there were 36 beds available in Sligo for people suffering from dementia. Now as the number of people who require the services in Sligo increases we have this scandalous decision to close down the unit and to force families to seek alternative and substandard services elsewhere in the private sector.
“How can Fine Gael and Independent Alliance Ministers stand over such a decision? I believe we should make it clear to them that they must intervene now so as to ensure that the Alzheimer Unit in Sligo remains open,” he told members.
He was supported by Councillor Thomas Healy who said “we’ve seen the same done with Respite, with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and now this. When will it end?”.
The motion was agreed by all members to call on ministers Harris and Ross to intervene to save the Alzheimer Unit.