As the final preparation for the Love the Downe march and rally and made, the Down Community Health Committee have one more meeting in hand this Wednesday evening (11 February in Denvir’s Hotel.)
At Monday evening’s meeting, Chairman Eamonn McGrady explained that the plans for the march and rally were well advanced. He said: ‘We are expecting a very large crowd. This will send a message out to the South Eastern HSC Trust that we will not be pushed aside in our call for the restorations of beds and services at the Downe Hospital.
“We are now finalising the detail of the march, and parking for any disabled persons will be available in the SERC car park close at hand. There will also be parking in the Eclipse and St Mary’s High School car parks if needed.
“Just Adam will be performing on stage in the Market Street car park keeping the crowd entertained until the march arrives. It will all be over by 3.45pm when the roads etc will all have to be open again. There will no doubt be serious disruption to traffic in Downpatrick on the day.
“This protest is about ordinary people. Their feet will do the talking. We’ll have 2000 balloons for the children. It will be a great and historic event and we need everyone to attend from around Down District and beyond.”
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Making the final preparations to the Love the Downe march and rally in Denvir’s Hotel are Eamonn McGrady, Down Community Health Committee chairman, Marion Ritchie, Joint Secretary for Unison (Down and Lisburn branch), Kevin McAdam, Unite lead officer, and Glen Fawkes, Unite shop steward.[/caption]
Anne Trainor, event organiser, explained that walker should ensure that they have sufficient arm clothes on for the march, and advised that if anyone was frail or elderly, that it might be better to wait at the Market Street car park rally venue.
She said: “We must look after out infirm and elderly people and not put hem at risk. On the day the Order of malta and Red Cross will be in attendance and the march will be well stewarded.”
The parade will be headed by a a fleet of tractors, then the Down Community Health Committee banner, following 100 yards behind. Next will be groups behind Love the Downe banners of clergy, schools and politicians and the general procession of youth clubs, sports’ clubs, businesses and organisations.
Marion Ritchie, UNISON Joint Branch Secretary (Down and Lisburn Branch), said: “I am attending the rally because this is my opportunity to show my disgust and anger at how the SEHSCT view the people of Down and what this area deserves. The vast majority of the staff at the Downe hospital are Unison members and they will be backing the march and rally on the 14 February.
“I have worked in the Downe for 32 years and seen the excellent work carried out by many dedicated staff. I have seen operations performed to a very high standard and many lives been saved because of the Downe. There has been a hospital in Downpatrick for 250 years which has seen many management come and go over that period.
“However none has been more callous and uncaring as the present management by stripping away the services from under the noses of the population it is supposed to serve.
“It is up to us the people of this area to stand up and declared that not only we not tolerate any more services removed from our hospital but that we demand the return of those services promised to us by the Hayes report.
“Hayes saw the flaws in the system and the infrastructure problems that have not changed. The only thing that has changed is the management both locally and in Stormont. We must make our voices heard to both.”
Kevin McAdam, Lead Officer for the UNITE trade union, speaking at the meeting said: “Our members will be there on the day of the march and rally supporting our colleagues in Downpatrick. We will mention this to the Trade Union Congres and lobby their support. The trade union family will help out.
“We try and explain that the campaign is not just about hospital services and local workers but about an attack on all the working class people in our community.”
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