Show Your Anger At Health Cuts: Ward closures must be reversed

People Before Profit Calls For Support for Hospital Protests

Ward closures must be reversed

The 14 People Before Profit candidates in the local elections called on the public to show their anger at health cuts by supporting hospital protests next Saturday (May 23) at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children Crumlin and at Loughlinstown Hospital.

The protests are in response to cuts at both hospitals.

Last week the Save our Crumlin Children’s Hospital Campaign revealed that the due to a forecasted deficit of €9.6 million, three wards will shut down this year, starting with St Joseph ’s. Two more will close in July and August. St Josephs is due to close today following the closure of an operating theatre on Monday.

Councillor Joan Collins, (People Before Profit Alliance candidate in the Crumlin area), said
“It is an outrage that the HSE spent €17m on private advisors and spindoctors last year while it will not provide the money to protect our childrens’ health. It is a disgrace that because the State’s largest children’s hospital will not be open for our children this summer. Wards and operating theatres are to be closed because of a €9.6 million short fall yet nearly €17 m is spent on advisors. Spending on advisors has been cut by €150,000 in the last year but Our Lady’s is to have a cut of nearly €10 million.”

 

The protest at Our Lady’s organised by the Save our Crumlin Children’s Hospital Campaign will take place at 12.00pm .

Our candidates Joan Collins (pic above), Brid Smith (pic below left) (Ballyfermot/Drimnagh) and Tina Mac Veigh (pic below right)(South-West Inner City) urge everyone to attend.

                     

 Vicious budget cuts are making their effects felt at Loughlinstown with the closure of St Brigid’s Ward. St Brigid’s Ward is a general ward in the hospital and its closure means the loss of at least 18 beds. Disgracefully, the staff only learnt of the closure in the week before the plan was due to take effect.

Hugh Lewis (The People Before Profit Alliance candidate in Ballybrack) said
“This closure is completely unacceptable because it is endangering our health. It is an utter disgrace that our health service, which is already in a shambles, is being forced to make further cuts. Last week the Allied Irish Bank accepted a €3.5 billion bailout from the government. Today we want the money to bail out our hospitals. This government has got its priorities all wrong.”

The protest at Loughlinstown will take place at 2.00pm is being supported by our candidate In Dun Laoghaire Richard Boyd Barrett as well as Hugh Lewis.

Contact:

Eddie Conlon 087 6775468,

Joan Collins 086 3888151,

Richard Boyd Barrett 087632951