Sinn Féin to protest against private health centres
Sinn Féin activists are to protest at 11 hospitals today against government plans to allow private health centres to be built on the same sites as public units.
Caoimhghin O’Caolain TD, the party’s health spokesman and leader in the Dáil, claimed it would create a land bonanza for developers and he warned that it would bring "further inequality" to the healthcare sector.
“Sinn Féin is calling for public land and public finances to be used in the public system only. This is the best way to deliver a quality public health system,” the Cavan-Monaghan TD said.
“Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats plan to use millions of euros of taxpayers’ money to enrich wealthy investors. This will increase inequality in access to healthcare and undermine the public sector.”
Sites on the grounds of 11 hospitals around the country have been identified for new private units and Sinn Féin claim developers are queuing up to secure lucrative contracts.
“Dozens of firms have applied to the Health Service Executive to develop private hospitals on public hospital grounds. Investors are literally queuing up to take advantage of the Minister’s generosity at our expense,” Mr O’Caolain said.
“Already private hospital developers enjoy massive tax breaks and now they are being given a land bonanza.”
Protests will be held at the 11 sites identified for development including in Dublin at St James’s, Beaumont, James Connolly Memorial and Tallaght.
In Munster, protestors will gather at Waterford Regional, Cork University and the Mid-Western while other protests will be held at Galway University Hospital, Sligo General and Letterkenny General and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
