SIPTU members were to the fore among the 5,000 people who took part in a protest march against the closure of the Abbeyleix Hospital nursing unit on 20th November. Earlier this month the HSE announced it will close the nursing unit, which will result in the moving of 28 long stay residents and redeployment of over 70 nurses and care staff.

Among those who joined the march in Abbeyleix was SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell.

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He said: "SIPTU is supporting the community to ensure that the elderly are cared for in the proper hospital setting within their own community. It is extremely important that we support everyone in this action at this time when the HSE is attempting to abandon its responsibility to care for the elderly in a direct manner."

At the conclusion of the march the crowd was addressed by their local political representatives, including Labour Party Senator John Whelan and Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley.

Last week the HSE also announced its intention to close another county Laois hospital, St Bridget’s Hospital, a 28-bed community nursing unit in Shaen, with its 28 long-term residents and three respite clients being relocated to other facilities. Another nearby nursing unit, the 24 bed St Mary ward in Athy Hospital, County Kildare, is also threatened with closure.

(CD)