Galway Advertiser 1999/1999_06_24/GA_24061999_E1_021.pdf 

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Negotiations between Portiuncula and Western Health Board now at 'crucial stage'
by Mary O ' C o n n o r NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN the Western Health Board and the owners of Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe over the takeover of the 56-year-old public volun tary hospital are at a "crucial stage", the WHB has indicated. The Franciscan Missionary Sisters - who have owned and adminis tered the hospital since its foundation - announced last September that they were tq cut their ties with the 225 bed facility and transfer ownership to the W H B . The hospital treats 20,000 patients from the West and midlands each year and employs 436 people. The nuns cited the fall in religious vocations as the primary reason behind their decision to bow out. Seven sisters are currently involved in the running of the hospital - four work in the facility, the others are members of its governing body. In a statement issued then, they said they believed P o r t i u n c u l a ' s future development and expansion would best be served under different own ership. "Underlying this view is the considerable concern that the congregation no longer has Franciscan Missionary Sisters available to take responsibility for effective ownership and development of the hospi tal." The Sisters said their decision had caused them great sadness. However, they believed it was for the best. The chief executive of the WHB, Doctor Sheelah Ryan, said recently that talks about the transfer of ownership were at a crucial stage. She was keen not to pre-empt the outcome of these discussions but said she hoped to have more details at the WHB's July meeting.

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HYNES YARD

Lupus meeting
THE GALWAY branch of the Irish Lupus Support Group will hold its next meeting on Wednesday June 30 at 8pm in the Ardilaun House Hotel.

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