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Massive
Rally of Support For Wexford Hospital
Angry Wexford people turned out in sizeable force on Sunday 27th Sept to a rally organised by Brendan Howlin, to loudly and vocally protest against downgrading measures feared for Wexford General Hospital.
Over 1000 people from all corners of the county crowded into the conference centre of Whites Hotel to a meeting chaired by Alan Corcoran of South East Radio and attended by all Oireachtas members and Dr Colm Quigley, clinical director of Wexford Hospital, who is a member of the steering group to
oversee a review of all services in the South East.
Leas Cheann Comhairle Brendan Howlin said now was a time for Wexford people to ‘lay out what we want’ and he was determined along with his Oireachtas colleagues to fight for the best outcome for Wexford People.
He said he felt decisions were being made behind closed doors and without public consultation ‘these are the peoples services. We pay for them, we depend on them and we want to know what’s happening’
He feared that the HSE wished to regionalise the A&E services, emergency surgeries, obstetrics and paediatrics ‘Some of the things that define a hospital’ he said adding hat the preservation of a 24 hour A&E in particular should be a ‘critical demand’ ‘I wonder if I had not called this meeting would there ever have been any public consultation? Would everything have been agreed and presented as a fait accompli?’ He asked.
The keynote speaker Dr Colm Quigley who stressed that nothing has as yet been decided. ‘The threats facing Wexford General ‘he said, ‘were the possibility that acute surgeries would not be available 24 hours a day and that there is also a possibility that a 24 hour A&E would not be sustainable . He said that lots of questions ‘could not be answered yet. The fears you have are a lot of fears that I have. Without your support the hospital does not exist’.
The 1000 plus attendance at Sunday’s rally gave an overwhelming commitment to support future campaigning to save Wexford Hospital.
With a unanimous show of hands they indicated that they fully supported maintaining a 24 hour A&E in Wexford and demanding that the HSE retain Wexford General as an acute hospital.
Those present also indicated that they would be prepared to march, take part in e-mail campaigns and support public rallies.
Brendan Howlin said that they would mobilise such an awareness and support for the cause, though petitions, car sticker campaigns and other means as is necessary to prevent the downgrading of Wexford Hospital.
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