Daisy Hill Hospital Protest Planned for January 21st

Aontú Representative for Armagh, Daniel Connolly, will lead a protest to save Daisy Hill hospital this coming Saturday.

Speaking today, Daniel Connolly said “We are holding a protest at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry at 1pm on January 21st. This year, Newry and Mourne are expected to have the 3rd highest population in the whole of the North of Ireland and yet the medical services aren’t in place to accommodate this. While it’s welcome that Daisy Hill will become an elective care centre, it’s important that this doesn’t come at the cost of Daisy Hill’s capacity for emergency general surgery. Not only will this result in poor outcomes in Daisy Hill but will also put increased pressure on Craigavon Hospital.” 

Mr Connolly continued “Across the North we are seeing a spiralling health care crisis. Hospitals are understaffed and under resourced. This is putting pressure on medical staff and putting patient’s lives at risk. A recent report published by the English Medicine Journal showed that waiting times of 5 hours or more are linked to a heightened death risk. Already wait times in the North average at 4-and-a-half hours. It’s critical that we try reduce this.”

“Up and down our country there is a crisis in our A&E services. On Saturday there will be 16 Hospital Campaign Protests right around the country. Never before have so many Hospital Campaigns demonstrated on the same day. There will be will be protests outside of Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, Causeway Coast, Coleraine, Craigavon Area Hospital, Our Lady’s Hospital Navan, Limerick University Hospital,Cork University Hospital, Kerry University Hospital, Galway hospital, Mayo General Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, Letterkenny University Hospital, Monaghan Hospital, Cavan Hospital, Mullingar Hospital, Drogheda Hospital,  Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown & Wexford General Hospital.

We are encouraging people to attend the protest to stand up for our health care services” concluded Mr Connolly.

ENDS