MEETING WITH HEALTH MINISTER OVER HOSPITALS IN BALLINASLOE

Date Published: 18-Feb-2010

The Minister for Health is to face tough questioning over the possible transfer of hospital jobs from Portiuncula and Roscommon to Galway.

A high level meeting between Minister Mary Harney, trade unions, staff, and local representatives will take place at Portiuncula hospital tomorrow.

The Minister is visiting the hospital in Ballinasloe to open the new A and E and baby unit.

IMPACT trade union claims the HSE West is attempting to expand the role of the Galway general manager to incorporate both Roscommon and Portiuncula hospitals.

The change would mean that both hospitals would have to report directly to the general manager of UHG, rather than their own hospitals.

The union is calling on all of its members not to co-operate with the move, and says jobs will be lost it if it goes ahead.

There are already fears 40 support jobs in East Galway mental health services may be lost in the near future.