A CATHOLIC bishop has accused the Government of unjustly treating people by failing to develop essential services and infrastructure in the north west. Bishop of Elphin, Dr Christy Jones, spoke out yesterday in advance of a silent candlelit vigil which will take place tonight outside Sligo General Hospital in protest at the proposed removal of breast cancer services.
And he urged people to use "the only resource left to them" by turning out in numbers to protest at government plans which will see cancer patients from the north west having to travel hundreds of kilometres to Galway for diagnosis and treatment.
"I think a grave injustice is being done once again to the north west of Ireland," he said.
"It is an injustice to deprive a population of such a size and such a vast area, of services that are so essential in our day."
The bishop also objected to the term "centres of excellence" which he said implied that the existing cancer service at Sligo General Hospital was less than excellent.
"It is tragic that this term is being used when I have never heard anything but superlatives being used in relation to all services in Sligo General.
Specialist
"I go along with the thinking that you cannot have specialist cancer services in every town in Ireland but I cannot understand why the north west from Inishowen to Galway is being denied such a centre. I think if a quarter of a million population is the figure mentioned to justify such a centre, then surely we have it in the north west between Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon and Cavan," he said.
The bishop also pointed to the lack of dual carriageways in the region and the Government's failure to develop the potential of Ireland West Airport at Knock.
"As long as the mentality to only provide services or infrastructure to centres that are already developed or overdeveloped like Galway and Dublin prevails, then the north west is going to remain totally underdeveloped," he said.
Meanwhile, local councillor Imelda Henry (FG), urged people to take part in the vigil at the gates of Sligo General Hospital at 8pm. "This is death by geography," she said.
She also criticised Health Minister Mary Harney who has refused to meet with them.
"This decision can only be reversed at the cabinet table," she said.
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