March to Save St Luke's Cancer Hospital

Over a hundred people took part in a Save St Luke's Campaign march from Rathmines to the Central Bank on Dame Street in Dublin

If you were ill with cancer where would you like to be treated, in an overcrowded hospital with no capacity or the quiet tranquil green leafy environs of St Luke's Hospital in Rathgar?

About a hundred people some currently cancer patients and many recovered cancer patients of St Luke's hospital took part in a march today from the post office in Rathmines all the way down Camden St, Wexford St right upto the Central Bank on Dame Street.
Marchers chanted:
'Cancer care, here to stay, Mary Harney Go Away!' with much support and solidarity from cars, Taxi drivers and passers-by.

Maire O Connor addressed the assembled crowd at the central bank outlining the types of companies who do the cancer rests in the States where electronic signatures of doctors are marked on documents when they haven't even looked at the tested slides of samples given by patients. These are the standards that privatisation of our health service fall to and without accountability.
Des Derwin of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions reported on the Health Campaign that DCTU have been central to over recent months. A Siptu Shop Steward from St Luke's itself also raised concern from employees.Patients described the absolute quality of care that they are receiving and how they want the excellence of St Luke's to stay there.

Images (c) Paula Geraghty