A Rosslea campaign group calling for the reinstatement of a GP in the rural village is to hold a meeting inviting politicians to explain to local people what they are doing to restore services.
The meeting by Rosslea Save Our Surgery (SOS) is to be arranged after two politicians were accused by its members of “focusing their attention” on health provision elsewhere. 
John McCluskey has told this newspaper that the people of Rosslea are “alarmed to see that in recent statements to the local papers Michelle Gildernew MP and Sean Lynch are focusing their attention on a proposed new health centre project in Lisnaskea.”
In a letter, Mr. McCluskey said: “They say they met with the permanent secretary for health to ‘progress the project’. We would ask them did they mention to the permanent secretary that they still wanted the GP surgery in Rosslea restored? As Michelle said she would do in July 2017. Or do they think that their shiny new project in Lisnaskea will fool the people of Rosslea?”
The GP surgery in Rosslea closed after the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) received no applications for the post. Patients are now receiving treatment from Maple Healthcare in Lisnaskea which has a total of 14,444 patients from Lisnaskea, Rosslea and Newtownbutler on its books. 
Ms. Gildernew and Mr. Lynch have pressed for the need for a new centre for Lisnaskea. 
“The people of Rosslea are not fooled by vote catching political statements that claim there will be ‘better health facilities for the people of south and east Fermanagh’ as stated by Mr. Lynch,” said Mr. McCluskey, adding that it is a “diversion tactic.”
“To that end we will be inviting all the politicians to a public meeting in Rosslea in the very near future. The ‘progressing the project’ that the people of Rosslea are talking about is the re-opening of their GP surgery in the village,” he said. 
Both Ms. Gildernew and Mr. Lynch were given the opportunity to respond. 
“Myself and Michelle Gildernew MP have met with the permanent secretary of health regarding GP services in Rosslea,” said Mr. Lynch in a statement.
“We have also met with Maple Group for an update on progress of their plans for services in Rosslea. When we met the permanent secretary for health and Maple Group we were accompanied by representatives put forward by the Rosslea community who were a united voice in fighting for the future of GP services in the town.”
Mr. Lynch said calling for a new health centre in Lisnaskea “does not take away from the need to secure GP services in Rosslea.”
“Indeed, as elected representatives, we must continue to push for all of these services and we will not shy away from calling for them,” he said.
Ms. Gildernew did not respond.