Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have seen notices in GP surgeries to the effect that patients who cannot afford to pay for blood tests should seek to have them done at a hospital. Many of these people are patients who need blood tests and cannot face having to go to a hospital to have them done. How does one square that circle? My understanding is that the HSE is of the view that this is a service, regardless of the increase in demand, that is already being paid for. The person in the middle of all of this is the patient.

Whatever way one tries to square the circle, that is not fair. I do not believe any of the witnesses would be comfortable with the notion that people would call to their surgeries knowing they need a procedure but not having the cash to pay for it - the witnesses have reminded us that they are running a small business - and on seeing that notice on the wall deciding to take themselves home. People in the United States are having to make a decision as to whether they heat their houses, eat or get treatment. Patients in general are now making a decision as to whether they heat, eat of treat but that is not right.