Rebel Fianna Fail TD, Dr. James McDaid said this week he would vote against the government on budget cuts which are threatening jobs and services at Letterkenny General Hospital.
Commenting on reports that up to 100 staff on temporary contracts would be let go at the end of August, he maintained: “Enough is enough, unquestionably so.”
The Letterkenny based representative said any surplus requirements at the hospital should
not come from the frontline services.
“I cannot stand for it if these services are being cut. We cannot stand over it as public representatives - we have to make our voices heard,” Deputy McDaid insisted.
“I will not be voting for the budget on an issue where we were not consulted,” he declared.
Highlighting the scenario of “sacking nurses at a moment’s notice”, he described the manner in which they had reportedly been informed on Tuesday morning as “arrogant.”
“We cannot cut our frontline services. They should not be surplus to requirements, there’s an excess of staff all over the HSE. We have far too many middle managers,” maintained Dr. McDaid.
Speaking to Highland Radio, he said he would not be surprised if the issue found its way to the streets.
“This is going to become a major political issue up here. Let’s try and do something about it,” he appealed.
