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.