Labour Calls for Retention of St Luke's Hospital

LABOUR CALLS FOR RETENTION OF ST LUKE'S HOSPITAL.

STATEMENT BY SENATORS PHIL PRENDERGAST and IVANA BACIK.

Labour Party Seanad Spokespersons on Health and on Justice, Equality and Law .

During Seanad debates today on the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) bill
2010, Sen Prendergast and Sen Bacik proposed an amendment to the bill that
would have prevented the closure of St Luke's hospital. However, despite
support from Fine Gael and the Independent Senators, the amendment was
defeated by 28 votes to 24 - a margin of only four. Following this defeat,
the Senators along with Fine Gael called a vote on the bill and voted
against it. Speaking on the bill, both Senators described St Luke's as a
centre of excellence for cancer care and criticised the Minister's failure
to accept their amendment.

ENDS.