Protest at HSE against Ward closure at Crumlin Hospital

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Friday May 15, 2009 11:37

by Paula Geraghty

mspgeraghty at yahoo dot ie

Members of Save Our Lady's Hospital Campaign took their protest straight to the HSE HQ at Steeven's Hospital

Brid Smith and Cllr. Joan Collins of People Before Profit alongside Teresa Shallow and Mary Byrne take on the Communications Officer of the HSE

As the media is focussed on elections and Fianna Fail is going down the tubes the Department of Health through the HSE is shutting down hospital wards, closing theatres and sacking cleaning staff. One ward was closed yersterday, seven cleaners losing their jobs while two more wards a re earmarked for closure during the summer. These events have angered Teresa Shallow of the Save Our Lady's Hospital Campaign who was fielding a relentless stream of calls from all Dublin radio stations yesterday during the hour long occupation of the HSE foyer at Steeven's Hospital. 'We are paying for the bailout of the Banks with our children's and grandchildren's lives' said Bríd Smith, a People Before Profit candidate for the Ballyfrmot Crumlin area. Councillor Joan Collins of PBP for the Crumlin/Kimmage area has been a stalwart support of the campaign was disgusted at the cutbacks and was adamant that the campaign would continue on. Teresa Shallow announced another protest at Crumlin hospital on Saturday week the 23rd May at midday. This is continuing the long campaign to defend services for children.

A petition to stop any cutbacks was accepted by the Head of Communications at the HSE. Craig a fifteen year old schoolboy who has been a patient at Our Lady's hospital since the age of two took on the HSE representative commending staff at the hospital and reporting the long delays for treatment which he had suffered. He passed on a message from his classmates that they couldn't understand why services were being reduced.

Professor Drumm was unavailable to speak to the Save Our Lady's Children's Hospital Campaign. Protestors asked the HSE Officer to text them when he was back in the building.

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The foyer of HSE HQ Steeven's Hospital