Bella cheesed off at withdrawal of services

IT was a cheesy moment for Deputy Timmy Dooley on Friday night last when he was presented with an unusual token of protest against the withdrawal of services at Ennis hospital.

Bella Hehir of McNamara Park, Ennis took election candidates by surprise when she marched up to one of the top tables at a public meeting in the West County Hotel and left a piece of cheese in front of Deputy Dooley.
A few months ago, the Government introduced a national scheme to donate cheese to needy families and Ms Hehir felt like returning the favour to Deputy Dooley.
The gesture came at the end of a night when the East Clare deputy was booed and heckled by sections of the audience.
Ms Hehir claimed it was an “insult” to offer people blocks of cheese during the recent national scheme.
“What has the Government done for us? Ennis hospital is practically gone; I hope a new government will bring it back.
“There is a lot of disillusionment with the Fianna Fáil-led Government. They are our downfall. There was so much corruption and money was squandered; the money was wasted on holidays; here we are living from day to day.
“I have children trying to get jobs who are struggling to pay mortgages. It doesn’t bother the Government one bit,” she said.
“I heard Timmy Dooley speaking at the Auburn Lodge before emergency services were removed from Ennis hospital. He was telling us reconfiguration was the way to go, now he is telling us differently tonight. I don’t feel I am being represented by Timmy Dooley,” she added.
Before Deputy Dooley got up to address the meeting, he was booed by a section of the audience, which prompted chairman, Peadar McNamara to appeal for everyone to be “diplomatic”.
Deputy Dooley said he didn’t support the removal of further services at Ennis hospital as no independent report, HIQA, or patient safety issue supports it.
This incensed some who shouted “you have changed your mind”. However, Deputy Dooley insisted he hadn’t changed his mind.
“I have always said I didn’t support the removal of any service that was not linked to patient safety and I stand over that.
“I asked the current Minister for Health to request the HSE to defer any removal of services as defined by the nurses until the General Election so a decision can be made by new Government.
“I have campaigned to get the best services for patients. I lobbied for investment in Ennis hospital, which is happening for the first time in 40 years,” he said.