Limerick: Protests took place in Cork, Galway, Cavan, Navan, Donegal, Sligo, Westmeath and Limerick with a similar message to the Government and Health Service Executive. Thousands protest in Limerick over hospital overcrowding Protesters are calling for a 2009 decision to downgrade 24-hour services at Ennis, Nenagh and St John's hospitals to be reversed.
People take part in a march in Limerick city center to protest overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick. It was part of a national day of action to protest overcrowding in emergency departments organized by groups across the country. In Limerick, Navan and Cavan, marches and demonstrations took place in many places across the country.
Well done to the thousands of Limerick, Tipperary & Clare ppl who turned up at todays protest sending a strong message to the Minister of Health and HSE #PeoplePower #listenuphsegiveusbackoura&es pic.twitter.com/Pz2Kui2Lh4
— Denise M Roche (@DeniseRoche) January 21, 2023
Campaign groups are calling for capacity in hospital emergency departments to be increased and to stop downgrading the services of others. The Limerick protest was organized by the Mid West Hospital Campaign, the Friends of Ennis Hospital and groups from Nenagh and County Tipperary, with an estimated turnout of over 10,000 people.
They protested the constant overcrowding in the region's only emergency department at UHL, the busiest emergency department in the country. A minute's silence was held at the start to remember the 126 people who waited on trolleys last April (the highest daily figure ever recorded at the hospital). People brought pictures of their loved ones suffering in overcrowded conditions and some of those who died at UHL.
Protesters said there was anger and fear that it had gone on for so long and that the decision to downgrade 24-hour services at Ennis, Nenagh and St John's hospitals in 2009 should be reversed. They say this will result in overcrowding at UHL without adequate resources to handle the inevitable increase in admissions from the three counties.
The HSE said the flu virus, which caused an unprecedented influx of admissions at UHL this month, had eased and they regretted the impact on patients and staff. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said he and his officers were regularly engaging with the HSE on the state of emergency departments to improve access for patients and support health workers.
Another demonstration was held to protest the downgrading of services at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan. An action committee will be formed in Donegal. The committee will be formed following a rally of between 150 and 200 people at Letterkenny University Hospital. Protesters added that people should not tolerate a "mismanaged" health system where there are too many people in management.
They complained that men from the North West should not have to go to University Hospital Galway for services such as prostate cancer, while services should be in Letterkenny. People from Donegal have to travel across the border every day for emergency services due to the lack of services available in the county.
Garry Gannon, Social Democrat TD for Dublin Central, said 'a broken system' is causing the overcrowding crisis to cost lives. He said one in 40 euros of taxpayers' money goes to the health service, but "we can't keep throwing money at a broken system." On the 24-hour reopening of closed emergency departments, he said the Social Democrats would support it if it was a short-term measure that would take pressure off the system and save lives.
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