The closing of Saint lukes Cancer Hospital in Rathgar

Crash&Burn

Please support the Save St Luke’s Cancer Hospital Campaign protest march on December 15th. The protest will meet at 12 noon at St Luke’s Hospital Rathgar and march to the Central Bank, Dame St . We are inviting you to attend the march and please bring friends, family and workmates. Cancer patients need your support.

Information on the closure of St Luke’s Cancer Hospital Rathgar:

The Minister for Health and Children announced in 2005 that St Luke’s Cancer

Hospital is to be closed. We believe St Luke’s Cancer hospital should be retained in Rathgar with much expanded services because –

St Luke’s has consistently been rated one of Ireland ’s best hospitals and, with 179 public beds, is currently the national radiotherapy centre treating patients from across the country. Its holistic ethos undoubtedly contributes to its excellent reputation. Patients and their families testify to this. St Luke’s has the therapeutic surroundings so important to cancer patients, has patient accommodation, and its Dubdoc clinic provides out of hours service for local people.

St Luke’s is a public facility. The current plan is to replace it with a public private partnership at St James’ and at Beaumont , thus threatening equality of access and quality of service.

An upgraded and expanded St Luke’s would help deal with the currently unacceptable cancer waiting lists. The site has room to expand thus maximizing what we have and making the best use of tax payers’ money. The Friends of St Luke’s have raised €22 million towards equipment and upgrading the hospital.

Many areas including the Midlands will have no centres of excellence under the cancer strategy. St Luke’s – an existing national centre of excellence – will be vital to patients from all over the country into the future.

There has not been adequate consultation with staff and patients about its planned closure.

People power, political support and pressure can save St Luke’s.

Our Website is www.savestlukes.net

So before you go to the beers work up a thirst and come to the march

Thanks

Vexorg

Hi Crash&Burn,

Banner will go in rotation as discussed

V.

Crash&Burn

Thanks very much and hope to see you on the front line

tbh

stickied till the 16th.