Unions rally for a decent public health service

punchestown

Saturday, 3.00pm - March 29, 2008, assemble at Gardens of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin.
The Dublin Council of Trade Unions and the ICTU Congress Youth Committee are campaigning for a decent public health service now. According to Des Derwin, President of the DCTU, the decline in our health services can be directly attributed to the drive towards privatisation. "The only way we can safeguard the interests of patients and staff is by defending and improving the public health services," he said.

SIPTU's National Nursing Official, Louise O'Reilly said the state of our public health services is abysmal. "Women outside Dublin have to travel miles to access radiation and chemotherapy treatment; young people with cystic fibrosis face a bleak future because of lack of resources; elderly people are frightened they will be placed in below-standard nursing care homes and people with disabilities cannot access the services they need. If we want to stop the decline of our public health services we must let this Government see how we feel.

"In announcing details of Budget 2008, the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD said health funding was up 9% to prioritise Services for Older People, People with Disabilities, and Cancer Control Strategy. The Minister said the Budget would provide an additional €344m current and €52m capital for the Health Vote Group (HSE, Office of the Minister for Children, Department of Health and Children). Where is all this money going? Has anyone actually seen any improvement in our health services?

"Enough is enough. We are calling on all trade unionists, health professionals, patients groups, health workers, and anyone with an interest in our public health system to join with the trade unions on March 29 and show support for their demand for a decent public health service now," she concluded.


I would hope that some boards members would take the opportunity if around town Saturday to join in the above. This is such an important issue both in the short and long term.

Padraig Mor

The unions calling for a "decent" health sevice seems rather ironic given that their intransigence is one of the main reasons it's in the state it's in.

El Stuntman

Padraig Mor wrote: »

The unions calling for a "decent" health sevice seems rather ironic given that their intransigence is one of the main reasons it's in the state it's in.

nail - head

well said

now if they were calling for a pay freeze and for the funds to be diverted into frontline services....

jmayo

punchestown wrote: »

Saturday, 3.00pm - March 29, 2008, assemble at Gardens of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin.
The Dublin Council of Trade Unions and the ICTU Congress Youth Committee are campaigning for a decent public health service now. According to Des Derwin, President of the DCTU, the decline in our health services can be directly attributed to the drive towards privatisation. "The only way we can safeguard the interests of patients and staff is by defending and improving the public health services," he said.

SIPTU's National Nursing Official, Louise O'Reilly said the state of our public health services is abysmal. "Women outside Dublin have to travel miles to access radiation and chemotherapy treatment; young people with cystic fibrosis face a bleak future because of lack of resources; elderly people are frightened they will be placed in below-standard nursing care homes and people with disabilities cannot access the services they need. If we want to stop the decline of our public health services we must let this Government see how we feel.

"In announcing details of Budget 2008, the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD said health funding was up 9% to prioritise Services for Older People, People with Disabilities, and Cancer Control Strategy. The Minister said the Budget would provide an additional €344m current and €52m capital for the Health Vote Group (HSE, Office of the Minister for Children, Department of Health and Children). Where is all this money going? Has anyone actually seen any improvement in our health services?

"Enough is enough. We are calling on all trade unionists, health professionals, patients groups, health workers, and anyone with an interest in our public health system to join with the trade unions on March 29 and show support for their demand for a decent public health service now," she concluded.


I would hope that some boards members would take the opportunity if around town Saturday to join in the above. This is such an important issue both in the short and long term.

He he he ... is it April 1st already
The unions demanding to know where the money has gone ?
Maybe they should get a few mirrors.

Lets see... if they want to do something about health system?
Then why not start working like the professionals they tell us they are, agred to half the administrators within the organisation being made redundant, and accept pay freezes.
Oh I almost forgot, resign or allow staff be fired when they make cock ups.
Hmmm I think I just saw a pig fly by :rolleyes:

When they start doing the above then I will bother my ar** attending anything they organise.

gordon_gekko

were they to come clean and admit that they are holding progress back by threatning action if the surplus staff in administration ( of which there are thousands ) were to be let go and the wages spent paying theese surplus to requirement pen pushers was instead spent on beds and other hardware

then i would be out supporting them

McArmalite

jmayo wrote: »

He he he ... is it April 1st already
The unions demanding to know where the money has gone ?
Maybe they should get a few mirrors.

Lets see... if they want to do something about health system?
Then why not start working like the professionals they tell us they are, agred to half the administrators within the organisation being made redundant, and accept pay freezes.
Oh I almost forgot, resign or allow staff be fired when they make cock ups.
Hmmm I think I just saw a pig fly by :rolleyes:

When they start doing the above then I will bother my ar** attending anything they organise.

Couldn't agree more with you :mad:. Still it'll be worth seeing the headlines on the Socialist Worker as they tell us what a great bunch of fellow 'workers' the public 'servants' are, striking a giant blow for the oppressed proletariat etc, etc

brianthebard

Padraig Mor wrote: »

The unions calling for a "decent" health sevice seems rather ironic given that their intransigence is one of the main reasons it's in the state it's in.

I'd usually defend the workers and unions, but not in the health service. However it doesn't help that the HSE is one of hte biggest (if not the biggest) employer in the state-making the sort of cuts that are in all probability needed could mess up the economy even more.

DaSchmo

brianthebard wrote: »

I'd usually defend the workers and unions, but not in the health service. However it doesn't help that the HSE is one of hte biggest (if not the biggest) employer in the state-making the sort of cuts that are in all probability needed could mess up the economy even more.

Edit see below

DaSchmo

brianthebard wrote: »

I'd usually defend the workers and unions, but not in the health service. However it doesn't help that the HSE is one of hte biggest (if not the biggest) employer in the state-making the sort of cuts that are in all probability needed could mess up the economy even more.

Edit - previous comment a bit harsh maybe.

You have to wonder what the lesser of two evils is though.

gordon_gekko

brianthebard wrote: »

I'd usually defend the workers and unions, but not in the health service. However it doesn't help that the HSE is one of hte biggest (if not the biggest) employer in the state-making the sort of cuts that are in all probability needed could mess up the economy even more.

how could cutting surplus to requirement possitions damage the economy
theese people have to be paid you know , taxes from the private sector pay theese people

garth-marenghi

attended the rally yesterday, decent turnout with a diverse range of people from political parties, various campaign groups, unions,members of the public etc. There is something seriously wrong in this country when a woman has to wait 7 months to be diagnosed with cancer while someone in the private system can be seen within a matter of days:mad: as was the case with the wife of one of the speakers who addressed the crowd (cant remember his name)

garth-marenghi

garth-marenghi wrote: »

There is something seriously wrong in this country when a woman has to wait 7 months to be diagnosed with cancer while someone in the private system can be seen within a matter of days:mad: as was the case with the wife of one of the speakers who addressed the crowd (cant remember his name)

Why don't you ask the consultant that diagnosed her so late?
He probably has a private clinic aswell.Ask him why he's so able to effeciently see his private patients and not his public patients.