The “Galway says NO to Health Cuts” campaign held its first public meeting last week. It was an awareness meeting that clarified the current state of our public health system, and the effects of mismanagement and cut-backs in Galway.

The meeting was held in response to the effects of suspending and closing hospital wards and certain services/ loss of hospital beds/ the situation in our A&E department/ the staff embargo coupled with threats to more jobs/ along with prospects of even more cuts in the government’s next two budgets.

These very serious attacks on services and jobs threaten to decimate our public health services. The panel at the public meeting expressed their frustration and anger and felt they had to speak out publicly.

Mr Stephen Kearns, Galway orthopaedic consultant, described how he had well over 650 patients on a list waiting for a consultation appointment with him, and over 120 awaiting surgery, yet he is not allowed by management to increase his work performance to clear this backlog.

Money allocated to public health is mismanaged by the HSE, more is actually syphoned out of the public health system through the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Helen Murphy, nurse and SIPTU nursing representative, explained how the staff embargo was causing serious problems, and how community services such as mental health are being staffed at dangerously low levels.

The embargo is actually costing the HSE more as it has to pay for temporary agency staff plus use overtime for cover, yet hundreds more workers jobs are currently under threat.

Paul Hardy, SIPTU Galway health services organiser, gave an up to the minute report of the situation for the trade union side in negotiations with HSE West. He spoke of the funding issue and the policy of job cuts embarked on by the management and government. Job cuts are actually a false economic measure as they cost the health service and the government more.

He also gave details of cut backs in community health services such as St. Francis care home, and the home-help service, which could ultimately lead to only privatised services being available.

Closures have taken place over the summer but it will be September and the autumn before the true extent of cuts and closures will be clear.

"Waiting lists and the provision of services are already so bad that those people who can afford it feel forced into the private healthcare option. However, income cuts and increases in stealth taxes, which affect the least well off in society the hardest, leave others in Galway reliant on an already inadequate service"
says Dette Mc Loughlin of Galway says NO to Health Cuts.

"Billions of Euros are being taken out of people’s pockets and public services to prop up the banks and speculators that have brought Ireland to the edge of bankruptcy.
The extent of the cutbacks is truly shocking, surprising those that attended the meeting. Speaker after speaker from the floor expressed their anger at the deteriorating conditions outlined, and the stripping away of services in Galway. Much is being carried out without the public being aware of the consequences."

As a result of the meeting a broad committee has been formed and the group is embarking on a serious mobilising campaign as a matter of urgency, including a city wide petition and an all-inclusive protest demonstration for workers, patients and public alike.

This type of action is being taken all around the country

The group is also linking up with a national health service campaign bringing together local and regional campaigns to march on the Dail on 29th September when it reconvenes after summer.

“It is crucial that we in Galway come together and join the fight back to save our public health service, as we cannot allow more cutbacks” Dette Mc Loughlin summed up.