BETWEEN 6,000 and 8,000 people took to the streets of Ballinasloe yesterday to protest at any downgrading of services at Portiuncula Hospital.
The hospital, which was set up by the FMDM Sisters in 1943 and now run by the HSE, is the biggest employer in the town with over 700 employees. Plans for a super manager to run Portiuncula, Roscommon and Mayo hospitals from a base in UCHG is bitterly opposed by the three unions at the Ballinasloe hospital – Impact, Siptu and the INO.
They fear that budget restraints will see Portiuncula suffer, leading to a reduction in services and a loss of jobs. They are calling on Minister for Health Mary Harney (who was born in Portiuncula), not to reduce or interfere with the current position.
People came from Athlone, Roscommon, Loughrea and Banagher, as well as local villages, to march. Several IFA branches were represented.
Mayor of Ballinasloe, Cllr Johnny Walsh, told the rally the turnout was sending a clear message to the Minister for Health and the HSE: “Hands off our hospital.” This was only the first step in the campaign and everybody should lobby public representatives to use their influence, he said.
Dr John Barton, a consultant at Portiuncula, said he was 19 years there and morale was now very low. “It’s the worst I have seen and I fear for the future of the hospital. It appears the HSE is not working with the hospital to secure its future development.”
Pádraig Mulligan, assistant general secretary of Impact and secretary of the hospital action committee, said it was the biggest march ever in Ballinasloe and “sends a very clear message to the HSE – under no circumstances are we going to tolerate the downgrading of our hospital”, he said.
Colm Keaveney, secretary of the Siptu branch, said people were very concerned at the lack of clarity about the future policy on public services at Portiuncula.
Anne Moore of the INO said the lack of funding had already closed many wards and reduced services. The maternity unit had won national awards for excellence for two consecutive years and she could not understand the proposed downgrading proposals.