29-08-2012

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Wednesday, 29th August, 2012. Vol. 5, Issue 35 • 63 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Tel: 042 9320888. Fax: 042 9329676. Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com

North-East to suffer hospital cutbacks By Niamh Kirk

COUNTY Louth is to suffer further cuts to health services the HSE announced this week. The cuts include closing 24 beds in Louth County Hospital, 10 beds in our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda, agency staff will be reduced by a minimum of 50% and no overtime will be permitted with the exception of NCHD’s from September 1. There will also be temporary closures of 16 beds in tOur Lady of Lourdes Hospital. The cuts are being made to bring the Louth Meath Hospital Group in under budget as it is running a deficit of more than €20 million. These cuts are only the tip of the iceberg according to the Louth County Hospital Group who warned that fur-

ther cuts could be expected. At a meeting with senior management at the Hospital they were advised that there would be more cuts down the line, including cuts to the operating hours of the Minor Injuries Unit. . Tomás Sharkey from the Louth Meath Hospital Group said that if the Unions are going out on strike the people of Dundalk would be there with them and called for local Fine Gael and Labor politicians to resign in protest against the cuts. “The HSE are leaving us with one ward where they are putting palliative care patients with stroke recovery patients. It’s cruel to the patients and to their families. “ When former Health Minister Mary Harney closed Continued on Page 2

Ski resort rejected By Niamh Kirk

HSE cuts will affect patients in Louth County Hospital

Planning permission for a €430m ski and leisure park that was to be located north of Dundalk has been refused by an Bord Pleanala. Plans for ‘Altitude’ which was to be one of Europe’s largest artificial ski slopes were initially given the go-ahead by Louth County Council. But Louth Environmental group appealed, and last week the proposed development was rejected. As well as the synthetic skislopes catering for different skill levels, the leisure complex included a water leisure dome, indoor adventure centre with climbing walls, an interactive golf driving range and an Continued on Page 2


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