Protest this Saturday over proposed downgrading of Portiuncula Hospital

A public protest will be held this Saturday, August 16, over the proposed downgrading of Portiuncula University Hospital.

The event will be held in Ballinasloe, starting at 12, in Fairgreen Car Park opposite the courthouse (also known as 4 Society St Parking).

A public meeting was held on Tuesday August 5 last in Gullane’s Hotel in the town, which was attended by 200 people and chaired by retired Portiuncula paediatrician Dr Kevin Connolly. Independent councillor Dr Evelyn Parsons was one of those who made a passionate and insightful statement during the meeting.

Many people throughout the midlands were upset and angered when they heard the HSE and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill announce that high-risk or complex pregnancies will no longer be managed at Portiuncula.

TDs, councillors and MEPs were present during the Gullane’s Hotel meeting which was told about the knock-on effects for neighbouring hospitals already under strain if complex cases are moved elsewhere. Local mothers who previously gave birth at Portiuncula addressed the meeting, expressing their opposition to the proposal.

The meeting agreed to hold a public protest in Ballinasloe on Saturday, August 16th and the organisers called for a strong local turnout in opposition to what they view as “the erosion of essential services.”

The opposition group, which is calling itself the Portiuncula Maternity Alliance, has also set up a petition which can be signed at https://www.change.org/p/save- maternity-services-at-portiuncula- hospital.

“We believe that the current plans,” states the group, “which involve diverting high-risk patients to other facilities, pose a significant threat to the health and well-being of mothers and babies in the region. Our petition calls for the immediate reconsideration of these plans and the preservation of comprehensive maternity services at Portiuncula Hospital.”

The group points out that the proposal is “alarming.” They say diverting high-risk patients elsewhere “could lead to delayed care, increased travel times, and potentially, adverse outcomes for both mothers and infants. The proximity of a local maternity unit is crucial, especially in emergencies. The current proposal undermines the principle of providing timely and accessible healthcare to all residents. The potential for increased travel times to other hospitals, such as University Hospital Galway, could be catastrophic in situations requiring immediate medical intervention…We call for transparency and accountability in the management of maternity services. The lack of clear communication and consultation with the community regarding these changes is unacceptable…We believe that preserving maternity services at Portiuncula Hospital is essential for the health and well-being of our community. We urge you to support this petition and help us ensure that mothers and babies receive the care they deserve.”

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