A LIMERICK group campaigning for safe access zones around medical facilities has said that a call from a senator to engage with people at Portinuncula University Hospital highlights the need for such zones.
Together for Safety said they are “delighted at the news that the Safe Access Zone Bill will be before the Seanad on December 14 and the protections they will bring for people accessing health care appointments and the staff working there”.
“However, we dismayed this week that Senator Ronan Mullen issued a statement directing people to approach medical staff in facilities providing abortion services around the country to discourage them from providing legally available healthcare to their patients”.
The senator said in a social media post that he was “saddened” to learn that Portinuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe is to provide abortion services.
“I encourage people in Ballinasloe and the surrounding area to take every opportunity to engage with the medical and other staff of the hospital, courteously and constructively, to discourage the practice of abortion and to never let up until human life is fully respected again in Portiuncula and in all other healthcare facilities in Ireland,” the online post read.
Responding, Karen Sugrue, co-chair of Together for Safety, said that the group “believe that directing people to approach medical staff in this way is a grave cause for concern for the safety of medical staff”.
“We are particularly aware of the vulnerability of rural practitioners who practice from their homes. We find it terribly worrying that staff going to and from work, already exhausted and overwhelmed, would be approached by people in the manner directed by Senator Mullen.”
Yvie Murphy, co-chair of Together for Safety added: “This direction from Senator Mullen makes clear the extreme and urgent vulnerability of patients and staff and we have written to Minister Donnelly and the Seanad to plead that they act urgently to bring the Safe Access Zone Bill in before the Christmas recess to protect and support staff and patients and allow them to go to work and medical appointments in safety, privacy and dignity.”
