A mass rally is planned to stop the closure of the hospital's emergency department.
Image via Google MapsThousands of people will gather in Navan today over the move to shut the town's Emergency Department.
The mass rally will be held to tell the government 'hands-off out A and E'.
The people of Navan are taking to the streets to show their anger over record ED waiting times and the scarcity of GPs.
It also comes as the HSE has decided to turn the Emergency Department in Our Lady's Hospital Navan into a 24-hour medical assessment unit.
The creation of this unit would mean people who have to be referred by their GPs first to be seen for medical assessment.
The demonstration will get underway at 1 o'clock this afternoon in the town.
Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín says it's incomprehensible at a time when Drogheda, Connolly, the Mater and Mullingar are struggling with ED overcrowding.
He says up to 47 patients a day that uses Navan's ED will have to join the overcrowding in Drogheda's Emergency Department.
Deputy Tóibín who's Cathaoirleach of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign says Navan's ED needs investment:
"Overcrowding is bad for health, and it's dangerous to life. It's estimated that 350 people die every year in this state due to A&E overcrowding.
"So we in Meath are going to fight tooth and nail to keep the hospital A&E open but also to get investment in it. It needs investment in terms in terms of acute surgery services to make it is amoung the best and the safest in the country."
