Protesters gathered in Dublin today to protest against cutbacks at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.
Protest groups from around the country converged on the hospital to demonstrate against the closure of several wards and theatres, and have some 7,000 fewer outpatient attendances this year in a bid to reduce a deficit of €9.6 million.
The board of the hospital has already been forced to close one ward with the loss of 25 beds and one equivalent theatre.
The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) which has pledged its support to the campaign called on Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney to reverse the cuts at the hospital.
"These cutbacks will mean that sick children from all over the country will have to wait longer for treatment and will cause more anxiety to their parents as operations and procedures are delayed", said INO industrial relations officer, Albert Murphy.
"It is grossly unfair that the Government and the HSE are planning this policy of cuts which will affect the most vulnerable members of our society while at the same time they are bailing out the banks", he added.
The INO claims 3,000 fewer children will be treated at the hospital this year because of the cutbacks.
The Save our Crumlin Children’s Hospital Campaign organised today's demonstration.