A group of parents turned out for a protest demanding hospital bosses at Connolly's Children’s Health Ireland in Blanchardstown to urgently reverse its appointment-only stance this morning.
The demonstration started at 10am outside the hospital, with parents and local representatives congregating with signs and placards. Speaking to Dublin Live, parent Lesley Anne O'Brien explained that they are looking for an explanation from the hospital on the sudden change.
She said: "We have had fantastic walk-in service for the past three years, and now we're being told it's by appointment only. We're being told it's a staffing issue, we fully support the nurses and doctors and consultants and everybody who works inside this facility.
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"But as concerned parents our children don't get seen by these appointment, we need to have this service in Dublin 15 and surrounding areas." She and Cllr Tania Doyle also handed in a letter today to the general manager of the hospital.
Cllr Doyle explained: "Basically the letter is from parents in the area, and myself as a local public representative commending the work that the staff do under immense pressure. This is a magnificent facility, it's an urgent care facility walk-in service, and I know the staff are extremely proud of the facility.
"The issue is a lot of parents who have contacted myself over the weekend are really worried about an urgent care facility that's basically now going to be an urgent care appointment facility."
Cllr Doyle explained that there was news last week in a publication that the hospital was making the change to appointment only, and she claims that she and other local representatives were not told about the change in to the walk-in service.
Cllr Doyle said: "We're probably one of the fastest growing areas in Fingal County Council, we have the youngest population and we also have the most diverse population as well. So we're looking for some answers, if it's a resource issue [at the hospital] I feel it really needs to be addressed. If it's overcrowding it needs to be addressed."
Lesley Anne added that it is "very difficult" for parents to get GP appointments in the area, and that the facility takes the pressure off Temple Street Hospital. She said: "Having this as appointment only is sending people into these hospitals which exacerbates the problem."
Cllr Doyle said that there aren't enough GPs in the area, and that parents who do not have any medical background are being forced to make the decision on if their child's illness is critical enough to be brought to the hospital. She added: "You're more than likely going to be pushed to Temple Street because the appointments here could be overstretched."
The group of parents and local political representatives from Help Our Children Ireland have also written to the Oireachtas Health Committee about the situation. Dublin Live has contacted Children’s Health Ireland in Connolly Blanchardstown for comment.
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