Thousands expected at Navan rally in support of hospital
One of the largest public demonstrations in the history of Meath will take place in Navan at 1pm tomorrow as thousands take to the streets in support of Our Lady's Hospital.
"They will be marching in support of the most important health infrastructure we have in the county," said Save Navan Hospital chairman, Deputy Peadar Toibin.
“We have distributed 30,000 leaflets, collected 15,000 petitions and erected hundreds of posters. Community groups, sporting organisations, bands, Trade Unions, Businesses, Churches, charities and Civic society groups are mobilising to take part."
The rally will assemble at the Navan Enterprise Centre an make it way to Brews Hill where there will be a number of speakers, including Deputy Toibin, Senator Shane Cassells, Deputy Johnny Guirke, Tracey McElhinney of the Labour Party, Gerry McCormack, Deputy General Secrtetary of SIPTU and Noeleen O'Brien, hospital staff member.
“People are angry and frustrated at record hospital waiting lists, record A&E waiting times and record scarcity in GPs. People find it incomprehensible that at a time when Drogheda, Connolly, the Mater and Mullingar are struggling with A&E overcrowding, that the HSE has sought to close Navan A&E." said Deputy Toibin.
"People are listening to the 23 consultants in Drogheda Hospital who are saying that the closure of Navan A&E would be dangerous to citizen’s health. They see the information provided by the HSE iPIMS system which indicates that up to 47 patients a day that currently use Navan A&E will have to join the overcrowding in Drogheda A&E. People see that this data contradicts the information being provided by HSE management.
“People see what’s happening in University Hospital, Limerick and they have no confidence in the HSE management when they say that capacity will be provided.
"People are absolutely shocked to see the HSE and the Minister for Health in open warfare with each other over such critical health provision. The HSE have claimed that the Minister has gagged them, that he is wrong, that he is putting lives in danger and yet the Minister is simply keeping his head down.
"People want to the see the Minister impose his authority on the HSE and critically they want to see the Minister provide the necessary Acute Surgery Services at Navan Hospital so that A&E can provide safe reliable health care to the 220,000 people living in Meath.
"We the people will fight for our health service. We welcome the support of other Hospital campaigns, such as the Save the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise. We will not allow the A&E to be closed,” he said.