David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is likely that a new Minister for Health will be in place later today or tomorrow. Members should reflect on one key policy priority of the outgoing Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, which was that all outpatients should be seen by a consultant within 12 months, while all inpatients should be seen within nine months. Today, I received figures from the Health Service Executive, HSE, regarding University Hospital Waterford, which is located in the Leader's native city, showing that 4,176 patients in the south east have been waiting for more than 12 months to see a consultant or to be seen at the hospital. There are a number of key pressure points in dermatology, ear, nose and throat, ENT, and orthopaedics but 4,176 patients who should be seen within 12 months have been waiting for a longer than that time. Moreover, nearly half of them have been waiting for more than two years and clearly, the policy has failed.

In a hospital within the Leader's native city, there still is no 24-7 cardiology cover, despite a promise made by the outgoing Minister for Health that this would be provided. Proper dermatology services are still lacking because consultant posts cannot be filled and yet, a recent OECD report shows that consultants in this State are paid more than in most countries in the OECD. I again ask for the new Minister for Health, when he or she is appointed, to come into the House to have a debate on the failures of the outgoing Minister for Health, as well as on the impact those policy failures are having on patients across the State. I certainly will take the opportunity to raise the real concerns of the people of Waterford and the south east in respect of cardiology, dermatology, ENT, neurology and orthopaedic services, all of which are critical areas in which there are backlogs and long waiting times. I appeal to the Leader to arrange such a debate as soon as the Cabinet reshuffle has been completed and Members can get down to the serious business of fixing the problems in the health service.