Cork Health Protest 28.06.08

cork | miscellaneous | news report Sunday June 29, 2008 10:30 by John Jefferies - Workers Party

Several hundred people took part in a protest in Cork city centre yesterday (Saturday) to protest at ongoing cuts in hospital services in the region.

Start of March at Daunt's Square

The protest, organised by the Campaign for a Real Public Health Service, highlighted proposed job layoffs and ward closures at the Mercy and St. Mary's Orthopaedic hospitals.

Among the cutbacks highlighted were

Closure of the 31 bed St. Catherine's ward and offering it out to tender for use by consultants for private work.

Workers on 6 month and 12 month temporary contracts being left go over the next few months with strong indications that up to 60 jobs will go.

A brand new Accident & Emergency unit has lain idle for the past 18 months because the hospital has been denied the funding to open it properly. A part time A&E service from 8am to 8pm is the best being promised.

SIPTU members at the hospital are balloting this week for strike action against the cutbacks. The protest voted strongly to support the workers.

Block C of St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital is closed with surgical work being wound down over the next two years - a very real threat that this hospital will close.

Moving off

Pat the Patient

Under threat - Cork's Mercy Hospital

Part of the crowd