On Monday 19th July around 150 staff, hospital consultants, patients,and members of the general public protested at proposed cutbacks in services at Merlin Park Hospital in Galway. SIPTU called the lunchtime demonstration at the gates of the hospital as staff are worried about cuts in services and the loss of 200 jobs at Merlin Park & University College Hospital Galway. The HSE are proposing to suspend elective surgery, such as hip and knee replacements, and close medical wards at the Merlin Park facility. Consultants have spoken out publicly about their fears for the future after they became aware of the cost-cutting plan. Two long-stay units for older people and the dialysis unit will remain open but the only dedicated stroke unit in the west will close.

The protest received much support from passers as SIPTU health service’s organiser for Galway, Paul Hardy, led the chanting, and staff on their lunch breaks marched with placards calling for the protection of hospital services and jobs. While the protest was small and not very vocal, it was encouraging.

Apart from SWP activists, 2 Fine Gael TDs were the only politicians to attend, giving their support to fighting the suspension of services, but ensuring they did not mention their own party plans for further privatisation of hospital services.

Since the protest SIPTU have met the hospital management who had no reassurances to give on services or jobs.
Contact has been made with staff in the hospital and they hope to link their struggle with other actions against cutbacks in other HSE services in the city and throughout the country.