Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government, there is a clear commitment to ensuring health services are delivered adequately to everyone in the country. In the past 24 hours, I have been informed that the gynaecological service at Our Lady's Hospital in Manorhamilton, for which there is a clinic once or twice per week, has been cut. I was told earlier that the final clinic will be held next Wednesday. That will mean that that women using the service will have to go to Sligo University Hospital, which is also under great stress and will be unable to cope in the way it currently does.

This is the third time this week I have raised issues regarding the contraction of health services in the north west. They may be small matters to people when we consider big Government, but to people in the north west, they are important issues. They affect people throughout the country. This is an example of small cuts having a severe impact. Our Lady's Hospital, Manorhamilton, has provided a magnificent service to people in that region but now the service I mentioned will be taken away. I insist on the Government reversing the cut.

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