Harney butchers healthcare in Mid West

By Cian Prendiville IN A report published in January, plans were announced to effectively close the casualty departments in Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s (Limerick) hospitals, replacing them with nurse-led minor injury units, unable to treat emergencies.

IN A report published in January, plans were announced to effectively close the casualty departments in Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s (Limerick) hospitals, replacing them with nurse-led minor injury units, unable to treat emergencies.

Previous talk that the report would propose an expansion at the Regional Hospital (Dooradoyle), which would have the only remaning A&E in the region, was shown to be false. The HSE said no money would be made available.

People living in Clare and Tipperary face long journeys to A&E, with the real potential for fatalities. An anti-cuts public meeting in response to the announcement was attended by 1,000 in Nenagh.

In Limerick, the Campaign for a Real Public Health Service has been out on the streets, and in the press arguing that these centralisation plans will be a disaster, even for those living next door to the new so-called ‘”centre of excellence” in Limerick.

The Regional A&E is overworked already, having 30 people on trolleys regularly. On top of this, the HSE has announced a 5% cut in spending in the Midwest – closing wards on weekends, cutting staff etc.

The Campaign for a Real Public Health Service is calling for a day of protest by all of the anti-health cuts campaigners in the Mid-West region. The health unions need to use all of their resources to get behind the communities and the health workers who are opposed to these draconian cuts.

Total
0
Shares
Previous Article

Unemployment heads towards 500,000 – Demand jobs not dole!

Next Article

Don't Bail out the Banks - Use bank profits to “bail out” society!

Related Posts
Read More

Thousands march to save Wexford Hospital

Thousands of Wexford people took to the streets of Wexford Town last Saturday to protest at the cutting of services at Wexford General Hospital.

The protest march is part of an on going campaign by health workers, local groups and patients who are angry at attempts to downgrade services at Wexford General Hospital or at some stage to reduce the number of hours the accident and emergency unit is open there - it is currently a 24 hour service.