Our Hospital is Not For Sale- Save St. Michael's Hospital, Dun laoghaire.

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Saturday July 14, 2007 21:06

by Paula Geraghty

mspgeraghty at yahoo dot ie

Photo report from today's march and Rally in Dun Laoghaire to save St. Michael's Hospital from developers

Campaigning over the future of St Michael's hospital began when it emerged in the last two months that a private developer Noel Smyth and his company Alburn Developments were holding discussions with the St Vincent's Health care group (SVHG), which manages St Michael's on behalf of its owners the Sisters of Charity, about the possible sale or re-location of the hospital

Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Dun Laoghaire today as part of a campaign to save St. Michael's Hospital.
The demonstration was called at a public meeting organised by the People Before Profit Alliance, which took place a number of weeks ago and was attended by almost 400 people

From the press release:
"It was agreed unanimously at the public meeting that the assurances we have recieved from the SVHG were not adequate. While with one breath the SVHG are saying there is no plan to sell or re-locate the hospital with the next breath they say they obliged to consider all options and that the purchase of the car-park by Noel Smyth represents a problem for the hospital.

Even more alarming is the fact that Noel Smyth in comments made to the national newspapers indicated that he was asked to approach SVHG about the possible sale or re-location of the hospital. He does not say who asked him but one would have to suspect the HSE may be in on all this. This would make sense in the context of the governments co-location policy.

"In any event, whatever back room discussions are going on, we want the SVHG, the HSE, the Council, the government and Noel Smyth to understand that St Michael's hospital must stay where it is. We want clear statements that the hospital's sale or re-location is no longer an option. Futhermore, we want the services that have been cut in previous years to be restored and for services generally at the hospital to be upgraded. Our campaign will continue until we get clear and unequivocal assurances on these matters."

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Comments (10 of 10)

Good action but...

by Joan Murray

Sat Jul 14, 2007 21:57

Good action that seems to involve many regular ordinary punters from the area. Good issue to especially as the Govrnment are going to lay the boot into public health service.

BUT my only criticism is with the SWP. They did not attend this protest as the Socialist Workers' Party. I think this is all a part of their not raising socialism, not criticising the Greens, and generally dipping the banner.

Local

Sat Jul 14, 2007 22:10

It is correct to call for an upgrade of Health Services in the public sector. I've not any problem with that. However I think the demand to upgrade "local" services is not the slogan that Revolutionaries should advance. Lets face it, the SWP wrote those placards. PBPA is not a broad alliance where people coming into campaigning are taking those roles. If you are a Revolutionary you would not qualify that with "Local". This is all apart of the SWP in Dún Laoghaire emphasising the local. In the recent election campaign I got a leaflet from SWP pointing out that RBB is a Dún Laoghaire native. That's true and I've no problem with that in a "about our candidate" seciton on a manifesto - but the SWP were pushing this as a positive reason to vote for him! What ever happened to class politics? Before I get attacked I want to point out that I think it's good that there are protests around this issue. I think if these people came up with these slogans I'd not have a problem. I'm pointing out that it's not a slogan Revolutionaries would advance as it may misdirect people as to their position. Afterall we all know of FFers that support "local" hospital over another one in another area.

More images from the same event

Sat Jul 14, 2007 23:24

Today's march was well organised with much popular support. The Chair of the Sandycove and Glasthule Residents Association thanked Eamonn Gilmore the only TD to be present for doing so. There was support from Sinn Fein and SWP among others, as the photographs clearly demonstrate. This campaign will continue on the pressure.

There is a section for related links and the press release for this event with the full details is in the link provided.
Images (c)

Popular eh?

by Wendy Heffernan

Tue Jul 17, 2007 18:04

If the people had voted for it, surely the last election would have been a triumph for the PDs, who came up with the idea of co-location. Just a thought

What's going on?

by Observer 2

Tue Jul 17, 2007 19:50

Wendy Heffernan says,
"If the people had voted for it, surely the last election would have been a triumph for the PDs,"

It was a triumph. They got hammered and yet for some reason, unknown as yet, Bertie hands Health back to Harney and she intends to grow for-profit in that service and that will mean co-location and also the closing of facilities, like St Michaels and the A&E units on the west coast just announced so as to facilitate the private hospitals that will soon come on stream. Harney is imposing the rules of the market place on Health and any notion of providing a service are swept away to make way for profit making.

You then ask,
"who came up with the idea of co-location?"
The answer,
The speculators that have the ear of Harney and Ahern. The guys that earn millions each year but pay no tax. They are constantly in need of new tax breaks. Co-location will offer much in the way of tax breaks.
Of course your central point is valid. The people routed the PD's and any rational interpretation of that would be that they rejected co-location. Problem we have however is that Bertie is only a democrat when it suits him.
Whatever is going on with bringing the PD's into government, Bertie would not have done so unless he had to. Which raises a few more questions.
Good luck with your struggle to save your local hospital.

by Harry Bradshaw

Wed Jul 18, 2007 14:10

Is St. Michaels a private hospital?

obviously

by anon

Wed Jul 18, 2007 14:20

If it's owned by the Sisters of Charity, then clearly it's a private Catholic hospital. It's not a public hospital anyway.

Public ownership

Wed Jul 18, 2007 14:23

If it is a private hospital are the SWP/PBPA calling for it to be taken into public ownership by the state to prevent its closure?

what's happening all over the country

by from one to another - n/a

Wed Jul 18, 2007 20:31

with co location and privatization. Let's see what everyone else is doing and calling for. More media on actions around the country!
We're all affected, let's stand and take on the gov together.
http://www.patientstogether.com/

What Tactics?

Wed Jul 18, 2007 22:12

"We're all affected, let's stand and take on the gov together"

We're all affection and we should stand together and take on the Government. But there are differences on tactics. There are some that want to only "lobby" and pressurise politicians. There are others that think there should be strike action, militant protests etc. And there are a whole lot in between.

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Our Hospital is Not For Sale- Save St. Michael's Hospital, Dun laoghaire.

Comments (10 of 10)