Public rally in support of St Joseph’s Hospital to take place next Saturday

An action committee founded to fight for the retention of services at St Joseph’s Hospital in Stranorlar has outlined a three point plan of action.
The Save Our St Joseph’s committee fears the proposed transfer of of long term beds will lead to further reductions of service, and the eventual closure of the hospital.
The committee is seeking an immediate meeting with Minister of of State Kathleen Lynch and asking all outgoing TDs and election candidates in Donegal to back the campaign, as well as all public representatives in the Finn Valley area, an assurance.
Meanwhile, a public march will take place through the Twin Towns on Saturday afternoon next, culminating in a public meeting at Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey, at 2.30.
 
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S.O.S. statement in full –
The Save Our St. Josephs (S.O.S) action committee met on Friday 5th February following a meeting on Thursday night 4th Feb., in the Finn Valley Centre, Stranorlar, over the concerns at theremoval of long term beds, including reductions of services and the eventual closure of St. Joseph’s Community Hospital, Stranorlar.
St. Joseph’s community hospital is at the heart of our community for 2 centuries. The caring and professional staff give much needed care to the most vulnerable, elderly and sick people from our community. This wonderful care is augmented by family, parents, spouses and siblings who visit their dependent loved ones on a daily basis, providing that additional care, love and support. St. Joseph’s hospital is at the heart of our community, providing a holistic approach to the care of those from our community.
The committee have formulated a plan as follows:
1. The Committee are seeking an immediate meeting with the Minister of of State at the Dept. of Health, Kathleen Lynch,T.D., to request an immediate stay on the political decision to downgrade St. Joseph’s hospital, which includes the existing services at the hospital. This stay has to be put into immediate effect.
2. The committe are to seek in writing from all current T.D.’s, all candidates in the upcoming general election in Donegal and all public representatives in the Finn Valley area, an assurance in writing that they firstly support St. Joseph’s hospital and all it’s services including the long stay beds. Secondly how they propose to assist us in the campaign ahead.
3. The committee are to hold a public march on Saturday 13 February at 1.30 pm, starting at St. Josephs hospital to proceed through the Twin Towns to a public meeting at  Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey, at 2.30 pm, where the public will have their say and the political system by the public who have mobilised in opposition to these measures.