A decent sized gathering of protestors joined the Navan leg of the nation wide protest at proposed A&E closures across the country.

The crowd which assembled outside Our Lady’s hospital heard Fianna Fáil Senator Shane Cassells say, ‘ As a proud Navan man and indeed as a proud Fianna Fáil man I will not let the HSE close our A&E.

‘The decision by the HSE is sheer lunacy as can be seen by eleven ambulances stacked up outside the Lourdes in Drogheda because they had no room to take any more patients.

‘I have news for the HSE an ambulance is not an A&E.’

Former Tara mines worker Gerry McCormack pointed out that at some stage someone in the mines will need quick access to an A&E service and that Drogheda, Cavan and Mullingar were too distant to be of much help in an emergency.

He also issued a rallying cry to the attendance saying, ‘There is an election coming up and I would ask you to use your vote wisely remember the politicians who are here supporting us today and more importantly remember those who are not’

Before the speeches began Aontú TD Peadar Toíbin called a minutes silence for all who had died due to A&E closures.

Cover image: Carmel McDonnell and Mary Crahan among the protestors today.(Saturday 21/1/23)

Members of the McGivern family from Carlanstown at the protest today.

Brenda Cuffe and Michael Fitzsimons both from Navan have been ardent supporters

to keep services at Navan for many years.

As Brenda said “We are now supposed  to getting  the railway line to Navan,why cant we keep

our hospital services here.”

A group of protesters  with the sign that says it all.