17 hospitals to hold protests against overcrowding this Saturday

Sligo and Cavan hospitals will join at least 15 hospitals nationwide this Saturday, January 21 for a day of protest against the overcrowding crisis.

This Saturday is expected to be one of the most widespread mobilisations of citizens in this country in support of a functioning health service. Never have so many hospital campaigns mobilised in such numbers. 14 Campaign so far will mobilise. 

Deputy Peadar Tobin said, “This crisis has not happened by accident. There is a capacity crisis in the A&E system in large part because the HSE has closed down 8 A&Es in 15 years at a time when the population of the state was growing. The HSE senior management is still wedded to that policy, as right now they seek to close Navan A&E. The HSE closed 6,000 hospital beds since 2008. There are 30% too few GPs in the state. There are 200 too few ICU beds in the state. Pay and conditions for staff are so bad that many are voting with their feet and leaving the HSE altogether. This downward spiral needs to be stopped now”.   

“There are signs of change coming. For first time senior HSE consultants have admitted that the closure of certain A&Es was a mistake. In Drogheda 17 consultants wrote a letter to the Minister for Health warning against the closure of Navan A&E. 10 consultants in Mullingar Hospital wrote a letter outlining the same danger.  Latest medical best practice is pushing back against the corrosive A&E and capacity closures of the past. This Winter’s chaos which is costing hundreds of lives needs to be a turning point in the development of a functioning health system in Ireland. We urge people to come out in numbers outside their local Hospital on Saturday to push home this point loud and clear so the Minister and the HSE cant but hear it”.    

“In the south of Ireland the protests will take place in Cork University Hospital, Kerry University Hospital, Limerick City, Galway University Hospital, Mayo General Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, Letterkenny University Hospital, Monaghan Hospital, Cavan Hospital, Mullingar Hospital, Drogheda Hospital Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Naas Hospital and Wexford General Hospital. In the north of Ireland protests will take place at Causeway Coast Hospital, Colraine, Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry and Craigavon Hospital. All protests will be at 1pm outside each hospital except for Limerick where protestors will gather at 11am at City Hall, Merchants Quay”.