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The committee of the group which have been set up to save Portlaoise Hospital from a potential downgrade have unveiled details of their election campaign.
The Portlaoise Hospital Action Committee are calling on the electorate to quiz election candidates regarding their stance on the future of the hospital.
This stance is to be adopted by any person who has a European or Local election candidate call to their home.
The action group has launched its own election campaign and is calling on people to put stickers up wherever they can to let people know they support them.
The group say they have no party political affiliations and will not endorse any of the candidates.
PRO Eimear Holland said: “For the next month or so, your doorbell will potentially ring countless times. You will be presented with an abundance of sales pitches, for this party and that representative.
“Therein lies a prime opportunity for you to help the hospital. Some of you may feel disenfranchised by the voting process; an outcome perhaps caused by the broken promises and apologetic excuses of the past.
“Portlaoise Hospital Action Committee (PHAC) advises that, however disheartened you may feel, you should engage in the electoral process. But how does one smell a rat? To inform this process, PHAC are launching our: “Vote No. 1 for Hospital Action, Not Promises!” Campaign.”
Ms Holland also suggested four tips for the public.
She said: ” 1 – Candidates’ election promises should reflect the public’s common concerns. Therefore, try to raise their awareness of the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise (MRHP) situation.
“How? Before they even ring your doorbell or approach you, face them with a PHAC campaign sticker on your front door or car. Display a PHAC campaign leaflet in your workplace or on community and sports noticeboards. Stickers and leaflets will be made available to the public. Other things that you can do: visit, write to, email and call acting counsellors and their political party offices. Share PHAC’s posts and tweets on social media, tagging in candidates.
” 2 – Candidates should be open and truthful in their communications. It is in a person’s actions, not their words, that their true intentions are revealed. So, make them accountable for what they have not yet done to advocate for MRHP.
“How? Upon answering your door, place the agenda high on the conversation list by asking the following question: “What have you or your party done to save Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise since the last Election?” If they cannot adequately answer this question, inform them that you wont be voting for them. If they respond with a promise, that when they are elected, they will fight for our hospital!; then ask them: “Why didn’t you or your party already do this?”
“Inform them that, if they had done this previously, you may have considered voting for them. If they claim to have done a, b and c, make them accountable for providing you with hard evidence for these claims. Only then should you consider voting for them.
“3 – Representatives with decision-making power have a special responsibility to be accountable to the people who voted for them. There is an old Latin phrase: “Facta Non Verba”, which translates to a saying, with which we are all familiar: “actions speak louder than words”. Therefore, don’t accept claims that they do not have power, because they do! Whether and how they use this power for the good of MRHP is their choice.
“Remind them of past broken promises committed by them and the party whose line they have potentially toed. To refresh or catch up on PHAC Press Releases, visit the Campaign Webpage: www.ourhospitalsmatter.ie
“4 – Finally, last week we shared all the positive news stories about MRHP. Keep fresh in your mind that people power prevented the unthinkable fate MRHP was threatened with.
“Use your lobbying power now to prompt tangible action targets for candidates’ campaign. Remind candidates that ‘the Universe doesn’t give you what you ask for with your thoughts [or promises]; it gives you what you demand with your actions”.
“Leave candidates with the crystal clear understanding that unless you are presented with evidence of action on their part ‘during’ the election run-up, then you and yours will not be voting for them OR their party. This may prompt action!”
The group also reaffirmed its stance that it does not endorse any candidate.
They say: “PHAC has no political affiliation, nor does it endorse any candidate. We would like to express displeasure at the prospect of ‘Save MRHP’ being cynically used as an electoral bargaining chip.
“That said, as “your health is your wealth”, MRHP should be at the top of all candidates’ lobbying priorities.”
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