Trade unions to protest in Omagh against cuts to health service

by Gráinne Connolly

Local trade unions will be protesting outside Omagh Leisure Complex at 1.45pm today, against cuts to the services in the Western Trust. 

A public consultation meeting called by the Western Trust is due to begin there at 2.00pm, to discuss the public's views on a series of proposals being put forward  to enable the health and social care services to be delivered within the funding available.

More info:

http://www.goqradio.com/news/q-radio-local-news/public-invited-to-public-meeting-on-western-trusts-savings-plans/
 

Today's public consultation meeting has been labelled as a "sham" by members of the Omagh Trades Union Council. 

Q Radio spoke to Andy McKane, UNISON Chairperson at the Fermanagh and Omagh branch. 

He said: 

"UNISON is opposed to any cuts at all in any services. That's basically why we're protesting. 

"We don't believe there should be cuts in neo-natal, in family home care packages or any wards in SWAH or their Stroke services."
 

As well as the cuts, they think its "unfair" to ask members of the public to make the decision of what services to cut. 

"We feel in UNISON it's a cop out from management. 

"Obviously someone with a pregnant family member is going to favour maternity services, obviously someone with a relation with a knee or hip replacement needed is going to favour orthoepedic services. 

"People with someone in hospital and wants to get them discharged is going to favour home care package services. 

"It's not going to be a fair and accurate assessment and it is unfair for senior management who get paid a huge amount of money to bat the responsibility of what services are going to be cut, back down to the general public."