Martin faces nationwide protests over plan to downgrade hospitals

PROTESTS are planned against the proposed downgrading of several regional hospitals around the country.

Health Minister Micheál Martin is expected to receive a radical report later this week which calls for the reduction of egional hospitals to 11.

This would mean places such as Galway, Kerry, Mayo and Donegal and parts of the Midlands would no longer enjoy the status of having a regional hospital with a range of specialists and facilities to carry out major surgery.

Opponents to the proposal to downgrade Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe will meet later this week to organise a protest.

The protesters will also include a lot of people from Athlone because Portiuncula is the nearest hospital to them, according to organiser Betty Kelly.

Similar protests will take place in Kerry, Mayo and Donegal if Mr Martin proceeds with the plan, local politicians warned yesterday.

The minister's spokesman confirmed yesterday that he will receive the Task Force on Medical Staffing report later in the week but it will not be published immediately.

It was not clear last night if Mr Martin intends to implement this radical report.

Kerry Fine Gael deputy Jimmy Deenihan said they would fight tooth and nail any bid to downgrade Tralee General Hospital.

"People in Kerry already feel that they are losing out when they compare the services they have to those in Cork and there will be major protests against any such move," he said.

Tralee General Hospital needs more resources not less, Mr Deehihan said.

Mayo Fine Gael deputy Michael Ring said they would fight a bid to downgrade Castlebar General Hospital.

"We will protest to hold what we have and fight a bitter fight to maintain the services that we have struggled to secure over many years," he said.

Donegal Independent TD Niall Blaney said there would be major protests in Donegal if the minister moves to downgrade Letterkenny General Hospital.

"The locals will be up in arms if there is any move to take away the services we won't take this lying down," he said.

The Task Force on Medical Staffing report is recommending that regional hospitals should only be allowed where a population of between 350,000 and 500,000 can be served.