Arthur Morgan TD chair of Save Our Hospital Committee wishes to thank all those who helped make last Thursday night’s Torchlight March to Save Services at the Louth Hospital a massive success.

Arthur Morgan said:

”Again the people of Dundalk and surrounding areas have demonstrated that they will not accept the removal of services from Louth County Hospital.  The people have spoken and the decision makers must listen.

“If the plan to move services to Our Lady of Lourdes goes ahead they know that the hospital will not close its doors.  It will still be there but it will be an out-patient clinic and band-aid station.  This is not what the people need or want and they have shown they will not accept the plan to remove Acute Medical, ICU and 24 hour Accident and Emergency.

“The campaign to Save the Services at the Louth will continue with a massive mandate from the people of Dundalk and surrounding areas.  We believe the decision to remove our services can and should be rescinded by Government.

“In conjunction with Dundalk Town Councillors the Committee will be seeking a series of urgent meetings with local Minister Dermot Ahern, Health Minister Mary Harney  and Prof Brendan Drumm from the HSE.  These meetings will be to tell the decision makers what the people demand.  Other events will also be organised and we will be keeping the public informed through the media and our website www.louthhospital.com

We urge everyone to continue to lobby all elected representatives by writing, phoning, emailing as we believe the pressure will help the campaign.

“The Committee would like to thank again all those who made the Torchlight March such a success especially the business people of the town who provided the services such as sound and lighting, banners, high visibility vests etc.  Also thanks to Jim Johnson who provided music before the Rally and Jim Corr who addressed the Rally.  We congratulate the stewards who together with the members of the Gardai ensured the safety of the thousands who marched from the 5 assembly points.

“We thank the local media for promoting the campaign and look forward to working closely with them over the coming weeks.  Finally, we thank the thousands who turned out to support the campaign to save our services and those who joined us at the Square on the internet and local radio.  It is heartening to know that the people of Dundalk and surrounding areas and indeed further afield support the campaign to save and retain services at the Louth."