Health services in the Mid-Ulster area are so sparse that they simply cannot be downgraded further, according to SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone. In fact, the new health minister, Edwin Poots of the DUP, recently admitted that the hospital was "run-down".
During a debate in Stormont last Tuesday, June 7 he said:" We have to recognise that there has been a run-down of services at the Mid Ulster Hospital and that it will be very difficult to get those services back." Patsy McGlone said:"The services are so stretched that they simply cant be downgraded further. They cant downgrade the services here because what they need to do is build the services back up. The whole of Tyrone and South Derry have absolutely nothing"
Cahirman of Save The Mid-Ulster, Hugh McCloy said that there were no acute hopsital service over a large area in both south derry and Tyrone:" i have worked it out to something like 700 square miles, although not eaxctly. trhere are no acute services in that whole area."
'Save The Mid-Ulster', issued a statement on the matter, which said " Save The Mid welcome comments made in the Assembly by health minister Edwin Poots confirming what all residents in Mid Ulster know, that the Mid Ulster Hospital was 'run-down' and that he will meet with Mid Ulster MLA's and Save The Mid to discuss the future of services to be provided at the Mid Ulster Hospital."