The question above has to be asked after it emerged earlier today that local radio station LMFM has been refused access to 47 emails relating to the downgrading of Navan A&E over fears the documents could harm the plans to reconfigure Our Lady’s Hospital.
In a post on its website the station said, ‘In a denied Freedom of Information request received by LMFM’s The Michael Reade Show, a review into downgrading the hospital is also said to be unfinished.
‘It comes despite reports the review has been with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly since the beginning of October.
‘The correspondence received by LMFM also suggests there is not agreement between the members of the review team and there are “contrasting opinions” on the matter.
‘The emails that LMFM requested to see under Freedom of Information legislation relate to communications between Minister Donnelly and the HSE between September and October of 2021.
‘This was just before the HSE raised grave concerns with Minister Donnelly about patient safety at Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan.
FOI requests are generally used as ways to discover things the government, state bodies or others do not want us to know
So again we say what has the department to hide?
And well done to LMFM for putting the questions in.
