Protestors to rally against Navan hospital closures

The Deputy Mayor of Navan Peadar Tóibín has announced a rally in support of Navan Hospital tomorrow at 1pm outside Our Lady's Hospital.

On Wednesday, The HSE had announced that all acute and emergency surgery will cease at the hospital.

Mr Tóibín said: "People are rightfully angry at the closing of services. During the last general election, Minister Dempsey promised to ‘go to the wire’ for the county hospital. Dempsey said a new regional hospital would be built and will provide the type of healthcare Meath people deserve.

"Those promises like many more have come to nothing.

The HSE said the Emergency Department will remain open on a 24-hour basis, but patients who present requiring surgery will be transferred to another hospital in the Dublin North East region.

The HSE had said it has taken the decision in the interests of providing high quality service to patients.

Tóibín said: "This latest blow comes at the end of a long list of service closures over the last decade. Maternity and paediatric services have been lost to the town.

"Blood Testing has been outsourced. Surgeons have been lost and suspended, interns have been removed. Keyhole surgery and Doctor On Call Services have been cut.

"It has been announced by the HSE that our A&E will be transferred to Drogheda in the near future and Psychiatric Services will go before 2012. All of this is against the wishes of doctors and health care professionals in the county.

"We have collected over 7,000 signatures in support of the hospital in recent times so it’s safe to say that there is massive support for the continuation of the hospital in the town."