A PUBLIC health forum was held in Limerick last night as part of a bid to launch a new campaign against proposed health cuts, this time in the midwest region.
Entiled 'Stop the Cuts: Save St John's AE, No to Co-location at the Regional', the forum was addressed by several people including Limerick-based obstetrician and opponent of co-location Dr Gerry Burke.
There is growing unease regarding the future of the AE department at St John's Hospital in Limerick as well as those in Ennis and Nenagh. There are also fears that two new units at St Ita's hospital in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, which cost €4.5 million to construct, may lie idle due to lack of HSE funding for staffing.
Michael Murphy, national organiser of the campaign group, said now was the time to build an active campaign against the proposed cuts. "Our public health service is under attack, not least in the midwest where three public AEs face Harney's axe, whilst three private hospitals are being built."
The Campaign for a Real Public Health Service was set up at a conference in Dublin in April where it was agreed to launch campaigns nationwide. In Cork, 500 people rallied to call on the Government to open the new AE department at the Mercy Hospital.