05/07/2011

'Momentum Builds' In 24 Hour A&E Bid

Momentum is building for this Saturday's protest to keep full emergency services at Loughlinstown Hospital.

Richard Boyd Barrett, TD of the People Before Profit Alliance, has said that residents of Dun Laoghaire, Loughlinstown and Shankill along with those in Bray and Wicklow are handing out leaflets and putting up posters to ensure a large turn out at the protest.

There have been several public meetings in Bray and Dun Laoghaire.

All agreed on a campaign that would include petitioning and lobbying local representatives as well as the protest on the 9th.

Loughlinstown Hospital A&E serves 160,000 people in South County Dublin and Wicklow and treated 21,000 patients last year. Without a full A&E service in St Colmcille’s patients will have to go to St. Vincent’s Hospital which is already over subscribed.

The proposal to cut this service is the direct result of the IMF demanding a cut of nearly €1bn to the health budget last year.

Richard Boyd Barrett said: "The response to the announcement to curtail the A&E at Loughlinstown has been met by anger and shock by residents in Dun Laoghaire and Wicklow.

Hundreds of people are now giving out leaflets and we expect the protest on the 9th to be big and to be the beginning of the campaign to keep the services at St Colmcille's."

He continued: “It is utterly unacceptable to shut down the 24 hour emergency service in Loughlinstown Hospital. If there is a serious accident on the N11, the extra distance to St Vincent’s Hospital could mean the difference between life and death. These IMF cuts are going to kill people. It is an absolute outrage that this government is going to continue to shove through the kind of cuts that many hoped we would see the last of when we got rid of Fianna Fail.”

Richard Boyd Barrett TD, is working alongside Bray Cllr John Brady to make sure that the local hospital services are maintained.

(BMcN/KMcA)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

27 April 2015
Man Dies And Woman Critical Following House Fire
A man has died in a house fire in Dublin. It is understood he was 53 years old. An elderly woman is in a critical condition at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. The fire broke out at a house on Sigurd Street in Stoneybatter. Emergency services attended the incident. The scene has been sealed off pending a technical examination.
17 January 2014
Four Injured In Apartment Fire
Four people, including a child, are receiving hospital treatment after being injured in a fire in Balbriggan, Co Dublin. Emergency services were call at around 01:00 on Friday to an apartment at Landy's Court, Millstreet. It is understood that two adults and a child were in the apartment.
13 June 2013
Protection Of Life During Pregnancy Bill Published
The Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill has been published by the government following approval by the Cabinet. Several significant changes have been made to the outline of the Bill, which was published in April. The Minister for Health will be given the power to stop suspended an institution if deemed to be operating the Act inappropriately.
29 January 2008
Monaghan Hospital Facing Cuts
Cost saving proposals will have a severe impact on services, including those in accident and emergency services at Monaghan Hospital. The move is a part of proposed cost savings in overall north eastern health services.
08 March 2016
Gardai Appeal Following Death Of 11-Month-Old Baby
Gardaí are appealing for information on the unexplained death of an 11-month-old baby boy at an apartment complex in Killarney, Co Kerry. The discovery of the boy's body was made shortly before 18:00 on Sunday, 06 March, when Gardaí and emergency services were called to an incident at the complex on Upper High Street, Killarney.