“Minister Must Suspend Planned Ambulance Bypass of Navan A&E Next Week”

“Minister Must Suspend Planned Ambulance Bypass of Navan A&E Next Week” – Cllr Emer Tóibín

Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín has called on people both in Louth and in Meath to attend the Save Navan Hospital meeting in the Newgrange Hotel, tomorrow Wednesday at 8pm.

Speaking today, Cllr Emer Tóibín said “I’s vital for people to attend the Save Navan Hospital public meeting at 8pm tomorrow evening. We must increase pressure on the Minister to suspend the plan to implement an ambulance bypass of Navan A&E. The planned bypass will take effect on Monday, the 12th December next week. Bypassing Navan A&E in the middle of a winter surge and daily chaos of already completely overwhelmed A&E in Drogheda will put people’s lives at very significant risk. This is an emergency. The unanimous support of Aontú's emergency motion at Meath County Council meeting yesterday by all the councillors is very welcome. It stresses the urgent to suspend the proposed bypass. I hope this support can be matched by their TD & Senator colleagues around the county"

Cllr Tóibín continued “Only this week there were scenes of total chaos at Drogheda Hospital as 11 ambulances couldn’t leave due to lack of beds, trollies, even chairs. Many paramedics were waiting 5 hours before their patient could be presented to Drogheda A&E. With extreme overcrowding, Drogheda is unable to absorb the increase of patients that will come by bypassing Navan A&E. The ambulance bypass plan is a deeply flawed & reckless decision”

“It’s staggering that the HSE is completely ignoring the advice of the consultants in the hospitals. This weekend, 17 consultants at Lourdes Hospital wrote another letter to the HSE in opposition to the HSE plans to bypass Navan A&E and bring all ambulances to Lourdes hospital. The consultants said they were already worryingly understaffed and that there was no way they could cope with extra patients. This move will result in the unnecessary loss of life.”

“A recent report published by the English Medicine Journal showed that waiting times of 5 hours or more are linked to a heightened death risk. The report found 1 extra death for every 82 patients delayed between 6 to 8 hours. In my experience and looking at stats gathered by the patient care watchdogs, Trolley Count, the INMO, there are few patients seen under 5 hours and waiting times of 18 to 22 hours are not unusual in many parts of the country.”

“Given the severity of this situation, it’s vital that we push the minister to suspend the planned ambulance bypass of Navan A&E. I encourage every elected representative in Meath and the population at large to attend the Save Navan Hospital meeting tomorrow evening." Concluded Cllr. Tóibín

CRÍOCH

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.