SDLP West Tyrone representative Daniel McCrossan has criticized the Western Trust for their lack of transparency.
Political representatives were denied access to an important consultation meeting in Gortin this morning where the future of frontline services for the local area was discussed.
Mr McCrossan said: “What happened in Gortin this morning should be a source of great concern for the people of West Tyrone.
“Here we had a consultation by the Western Trust on the future of Health provision in West Tyrone and they have denied public representatives a role in voicing the needs and concerns of the people we represent.
“Decisions made at these meetings will affect the disabled and vulnerable in our society and these are the people who asked for us to represent their concerns to the Trust.
“This clear lack of transparency raises serious questions around what exactly the Western Trust is planning for the future of our people.
“There is a clear danger that vital services could be removed by stealth and today highlights how the Trust are now attempting to hide the flawed process that they have undertaken in the previous 6 months.
“Indicative of the level of our concern and the lack of communication and openness from the Trust, is the cross-party support from political representatives in West Tyrone.
“It is not often we agree but we are together in our outrage and anxiety on the direction the Trust is taking.
“We will be lodging formal complaints with the Western Trust following today’s meeting and will be fighting hard for the people of Gortin and the surrounding areas to ensure the Trust and the department make the best decisions for the local rural community.”
