Thousands gathered outside Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan today to voice their anger over plans to shut down its emergency department.
A large crowd turned out in protest over proposals to replace the A&E with a 24-hour medical assessment and injury unit.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said it’s incomprehensible at a time when Drogheda, Connolly, the Mater and Mullingar are struggling with ED overcrowding.
Read More: Navan’s Emergency Department transitioning to a 24-hour Medical Assessment Unit
The Meath TD, who is chair of the Save Navan Hospital campaign, described Saturday’s rally as ‘D-Day for Navan A&E’.
He said he wanted to “send a strong message” that “we don’t trust the HSE”.
He also thanked consultants in Drogheda Hospital who warned in writing that the “transfer of risk from an unsafe ED in Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan to an under-resourced Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda will lead to poorer clinical outcomes for patients”.
The consultants’ letter added that a lack of planning and resourcing is a “recipe for poor patient outcomes and investment in essential critical services must be prioritised now”.
Deputy Toíbín told protesters the proposed changes would result in “up to 47 extra patients waiting in Drogheda from Navan every day” and “shift the risk to Drogheda”.
Last month Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald voiced her objection saying it was untrue that “taking a knife” to the hospital’s emergency services will improve healthcare services.
Ms McDonald’s comments came after the hospital’s clinical director said the current ED is not safe for patients and does not provide them with the “best chance of survival”.
Last night the HSE said it has “planned for and is putting in place the extra resources required to ensure a safe transition”.
The statement added that “this change is supported by HSE national clinical leadership, clinicians at Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan, and Meath Faculty of GPs”.
It added that “the reconfiguration is about ensuring that patients who are unstable or seriously ill are directed to the right hospital for their needs”.
The protest in Navan comes as University Hospital Kerry (UHK) confirmed earlier on Saturday that it has been forced to cancel a significant number of appointments and elective surgeries next week.
In a statement, the hospital’s management said the cancellations were on account of an outbreak of Covid-19 among staff, which had lead to staff shortages.
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