The party has produced a Healthcare Newsletter which is presently being distributed throughout the County calling on the public to act immediately to resist any proposed downgrading of Wexford General Hospital and to demand that Health Services in Wexford are not only protected but are improved and upgraded.

Party Spokesperson David Forde, an employee of Wexford General Hospital said:

"The threat to Casualty and Maternity services in Wexford is very real despite attempts by local Government TD's to minimise it. The Taoiseach has clearly stated that the proposals contained in the Hanly Report are now 'official government policy' and has acted swiftly to stifle any opposition from within Fianna Fáil by reprimanding Minister for Defence, Michael Smith who at first stated that he could not endorse the Hanly Report for his own constituency of North Tipperary but has now been forced to relent and apologise.

"The real threat to Wexford General Hospital lies in the outworking of the Hanly Report. This will not all happen within a matter of weeks or months. The likely scenario would see a gradual downgrading of services at the Hospital leading to ultimate closure of essential services over a longer planned timeframe.

"We presently have a situation where just four Casualty trolleys are expected to cater for a population of 120,000 people. This is already unacceptable and we must demand that the Casualty Department is upgraded and improved.

"Other counties throughout the country have already been active in making their objections to Hanly heard with 15,000 people marching in Ennis last weekend in protest at the threatened downgrading of their local Hospital.

"The people of Wexford must not hesitate to make sure that their voices are just as loudly heard. It must be made clear that any threat at all to essential health services in Wexford is totally unacceptable, will be completely rejected and will meet with the strongest possible public reaction.

"The public must mobilise to save Wexford General Hospital, nobody else can achieve this and there is no other way to make sure that our Hospital is protected. It will require a massive public campaign with all community groups, residents associations, sports clubs, trade unions, farming organisations and every section of society in Wexford coming together to apply the very maximum pressure on the government.

"As an employee of Wexford General Hospital, I have discussed this issue with my own Trade Union (SIPTU) as well as IMPACT and the Nursing Unions and am hopeful that a full public meeting, organised by the Trade Unions within the Hospital, will be arranged very shortly. In the meantime this issue should be an urgent item for discussion on the agenda of every association and grouping within the county."