Cullinane calls for protection of Waterford Regional Hospital ahead of major rally today

February 23, 2013

Waterford based Sinn Fein Senator David Cullinane has reiterated his call on the government not to downgrade Waterford Regional Hospital or allow the Southeast hospital configuration to be broken up. He said specialist and tertiary services such as cancer care, trauma and cardiology are all at risk if plans to break up the region are progressed.

Senator Cullinane was speaking in advance of a huge hospital rally in Waterford as thousands of people from the Southeast are due to take to the streets demanding a retention of services in the Southeast.

He said;

“I commend the organisers of today’s community based march. It is important that we all stand together and united in defending hospital services in the Southeast.

“The proposed breakup of the Southeast Hospital configuration will see a four way split in the region with hospitals in Kilkenny and Wexford grouping with hospitals in Dublin and Waterford and Clonmel grouping with Cork. This will break up the region and reduce the critical mass needed to sustain tertiary and specialist services such as cancer care, trauma at cardiology at Waterford Regional Hospital. 

“I am calling on the Minister for Health to publish the Higgins Report which I understand is with the Minister. The people of the Southeast have a right to know what is in this report before it goes to cabinet. Crucially the government needs to keep the Southeast structure in place thereby securing tertiary services and jobs in the region.”

ENDS