Thousands sign save South Tipp hospital petition
At least five thousand signatures, from people who want South Tipperary Hospital to retain all its services, have been collected on a petition circulated by the Save Our Hospital committee in just the first five days since its launch.
More than 2,000 signatures were filled in to the petition placed in Clonmel's Town Hall, between the launch on Wednesday and Friday afternoon, and outside Semple Stadium, last Sunday, Tipperary hurling supporters added another 3,000 names to the campaign.
“There’s no doubt about it, there is huge support for the campaign,” Cllr Seamus Healy, chairman of the Save Our Hospital committee told The Nationalist.
The petition has now been circulated to shops, offices and businesses across county Tipperary and Cllr Healy, plans to be outside Semple Stadium again this coming Sunday, before the double header in Thurles.
As well as the various locations across the county where people can sign the petition, there are individuals going from door to door with it.
Clonmel Chamber of Commerce are lending their support to the hospital and have set up a text petition for people to show their support. To be included all you have to do is text the word ‘save’ to 0860202247.
The Chamber of Commerce are very much behind the campaign to retain services in Clonmel and have set up a sub-committee that is liaising with the Save Our Hospital committee.
A Facebook petition has also been started.
Today (Thursday) the Save Our Hospital campaign will open an office on the corner of O’Connell Street and Mary Street, in Clonmel, where the petition will be available, as well as general information on the campaign.
Stepping up the campaign in support of South Tipperary General Hospital, a public march will be held in Clonmel on March 27. Two thousand posters advertising the date and time are also being circulated through the county this week.
Cllr Healy said he has been struck by the support for their campaign, from right across the county. “There is a lot of support out there, not just in Clonmel. The issue is a county issue and people are genuinely concerned about losing services in the hospital.”
There are 44 people on the Save Our Hospital committee, and Cllr Healy says there is hardly any town or village in Tipperary that is not represented.
Deputy Tom Hayes also supported the petition, this week. “The petition is one real and incredibly effective way that we can show Minister Harney and the HSE how vital our health services are. We need to show at every level the amount of support that there is for the South Tipperary General Hospital in this area,” he said.
“People power is the only way to tackle what the HSE are planning for South Tipperary. The bully-boy tactics of the HSE cannot be allowed to continue - and people need to have their say,” he added.
“The services are essential for young and old and we must show at every level how committed we are to retaining them - the petition is a vital part of that. It is a simple way to have your say about the importance of retaining our health services."
Earlier this week Deputy Mattie McGrath called for the wider distribution of the petition, including to every shop, public house, local business and Post Office "so that the best possible support can be garnered for this important issue.""
"I strongly urge the public to sign the petition to protest against the removal of any acute hospital services from South Tipperary General Hospital," he added.
"The petition gives the people a chance to show how strongly they feel and will form an important part of the fight to defend our health services," said Senator Phil Prendergast.
"I urge everyone in the STGH catchment area to sign the petition and join our march on the 27th. People power can stop the Governments senseless plans to downgrade our hospital."
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Weather for Clonmel
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
