5,000 march in Ennis against Health Cutbacks (29 Septenber)

clare | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Monday October 01, 2007 00:14

by Paula Geraghty

mspgeraghty at yahoo dot ie

0876101340

Harney's new health Empire- how many will have to die?

Harney plans to cut 24 hour A & E cover at Ennis hospital, in favour of centres of excellence. These centres will have to be more than excellent to cope with the decimation of the health service elsewhere.

The anger of more than 5,000 mostly Clare people was palpable on Saturday, in the march against the downgrading of Ennis Hospital. People were very bitter about what was seen as the Fianna Fail betrayal in the Dáil when the government carried the vote to do nothing about the Aer Lingus pull-out of Shannon. Clare is a traditional Fianna Fail stronghold.

Clare Cancer Concern and The Ennis General Hospital Development Committee who organised the protest say there's been a huge show of support for their campaign to fight the loss of 24-hour A&E services.

They're also protesting at cutbacks in the breast cancer facilities. Speakers from the platform, including the Chair of the ICA and the Irish Farmers Association noted that animals had more rights and access to health than women in Clare. A damning indictment of the Possessive Democrats health policy.

All speakers from a Doctor to Bishop Willie Walsh spoke against the inequalities of a two tiered health system which delivered care based on one's ability to pay. One speaker was damning of the so called centres of excellence when excellence means being put up in a hotel because there was no space in it. This had been happening in the Rotunda maternity hospital recently. The notion that sick people are described as 'bed blockers' was denounced as well as the privatisation of our health care through co-location. The question was asked- who will benefit from Harney's new health empire?

No health issue was left unturned. Be in no doubt that the march affirmed that health care is a basic human right.

Placards said: 'Bertie, you are killing us', 'Ahern Drumm Harney- Funeral Directors' and what leaves no doubt is 'Professor Drumm- Lord Chief Executioner'

Images (c)

Many health workers protested with over 40 Aer Lingus uniformed workers, the local fire brigade staff, ambulance crews and a SIPTU presence.

One woman had a photograph of Bertie, ripped it up, another man ran up to her kissed her on the cheek, the crowd roared in celebration. She was shaking with her audacity and spoke again into the microphone and said 'If someone would take a photograph of Mary Harney I'd tear that up too'. And received another round of applause.

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Comments (4 of 4)

Privatisation is the intention

by Jim O'Sullivan

Tue Oct 02, 2007 08:57

Mary Harney is not using the PPP system only when it's apparently apropriate to do so-the provoision of raditherapy proves this. These services would be provided quicker without any involvement of private money. Harney is ideologically driven on the matter.

More pictures from Saturday...

by CptSternn - Sinn Féin

Mon Oct 01, 2007 16:54

Co. Clare

More pictures from the march. It was a good turn out and they had more organisations now involved than most people know about.

Ennis Hospital March #1

Ennis Hospital March #2

Ennis Hospital March #3

Ennis Hospital March #4

Time is running out

Mon Oct 01, 2007 08:43

Congratulations to all in Ennis. But the fact is that as a nation we are asleep to what the government is doing and to successfully challange what is happening we must confront the policy that lies behind the actions. The government is in the process of privatising everything to create a copy of the American system of low direct taxes combined with little or no public services. This of course greatly favours the wealthy.
The intention is to privatise the Health Service in the long term and in order to achieve this the existing service must be set up so as to attract speculators with the promise of large profits. Profits and the provision of service do not mix. The emphasis is therefore placed on rationalisation of existing facilities and job cuts. The HSE is being populated with people who's first objective is not to provide better services for the sick, but rather to save money. Money is the new god.
During her term at Health, Harney has insisted that all activity is carried out under a PPP (Private Public Partnership), the system used to grow for-profit activitiy in what were heretofore services provided under the State's control. Public services are accessable by all citizens, those on the other hand that are under the control of the for-profit sector, are only accessable to those that can pay. That is the stark difference and if Harney and Ahern have their way, that is also the stark future.

The rally continues.

Mon Oct 01, 2007 00:28

Images (c)

Watch this space for more.