Sinn Féin: Hospital Protest will continue

Following on from a meeting last night, the officer board of County Wexford Sinn Féin has confirmed that its weekly protest outside Wexford General Hospital will continue until operating theatre 2 is reopened.  A spokesperson for Wexford Sinn Féin said that Sinn Féins only concern was the future of the hospital and reiterated that these protests were not an attack on the hospital or its hard working staff.

"Cllr Anthony Kelly was part of a delegation that met management at Wexford General Hospital last Tuesday night.  Cllr Kelly agreed not to make a statement on the issue but has urged the party to continue with its weekly protests outside the hospital grounds calling for the immediate reopening of operating theatre 2."

"While Sinn Féin welcomes any possible good news concerning the future of the Wexford General Hospital, operating theatre 2 remains closed.  It has been repeated over and over again that emergency cases are still being dealt with in the hospital but the fact remains that operations have been cancelled as a direct result of this closure.  Many people who have had their operations cancelled have been on waiting lists for years."

"Sinn Féin would certainly welcome the opening of the rumoured third operating theatre at Wexford General but funding should be available to keep the second one opened first.  This is the third time that theatre 2 has been closed for a period in order to balance the books.  What if there was a sudden surge of patients needing emergency care? This would certainly drain the budget.  Would it result in other services being closed to balance the books?"

"Have we now reached the stage where our hospitals are to be run like a business in receivership?"

"Health care is a right.  Sinn Féin is committed to the protection of services at Wexford General.  When the A&E was under threat people power on the streets forced the then Fianna Fail regime to back down."

"It is no secret that Sinn Féin has no confidence in health minister James Reilly.  It is also common knowledge that the Minister plans to cut another €1 billion from the health budget next year.  How long will it be before we have more 'temporary closures' at our hospital?  We would sincerely welcome a positive outcome from this mess but, under the circumstances, will maintain extreme vigilance."

The third protest against the closure of operating theatre 2 will be held outside the grounds of Wexford General Hospital this Saturday at 1.30pm.