This article is from page 4 of the 2007-11-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
ENNIS General Hospital Develop- ment Committee are preparing to elect a new committee although it is not yet known if chairman Peadar McNamara is to step down.
The long-serving member of the committee said he was fighting an internal battle and had not yet decid- ed if he would be vacating the chair.
The committee, which campaigns for the retention of 24-hour accident and emergency services at Ennis General Hospital and the reopening of the mammography unit, will hold
its annual general meeting on Mon- day, January 28.
Mr McNamara said that the meet- ing, which will be held in the Auburn Lodge, is open to the public.
“We are inviting all organisations to send a delegation and we hope to elect anew committee,” he said.
The group set up a sub-commit- tee – Clare Cancer Concern – earlier this year when it emerged that En- nis General Hospital was to lose its mammography unit.
At the end of September, the hospital committee organised a rally through the streets of Ennis protesting against
the threat to the acute hospital’s 24- hour accident and emergency service. Less than 5,000 people gathered in the square in Ennis on that Saturday afternoon in support.
Groups such as Clare People With Disabilities, Ennis Active Retire- ment, SIPTU, Shannon Aer Lingus Workers, Kildysart Agricultural Show, District Day Care Centre Clarecastle, Birth Choice Clare, Clare Sinn Fein, the INO, The Lions Club and members of Clare’s locals authorities took part in the March.
Mr McNamara is now hoping that the organisations will attend the
meeting along with the members of the public. “We hope to set up a new and revitalised committee,” he said.
When asked if he himself would be stepping down having served as chairman for a number of years he answered, “I am saying nothing.” In the meantime, he said he would con- tinue with the campaign.
Since the protest march, Mr Mc- Namara said that the group have met with Independent TD Finian Mc- Grath and the health spokespersons from the opposition benches. The eroup have also prepared a document for TDs outlining their plight.