Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 9 June 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Update on Sláintecare: Department of Health

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To what degree have the witnesses been satisfied by the availability of funding for the implementation programme so far? What are their expectations for the future? To what degree has Sláintecare been able to interact with GPs, consultants and nurses, that is, the front-line workers over the difficult last 12 months or more?

There are two major trauma care centres, one in Dublin and one in Cork. I understand the need for both but is it sufficient to cover the country?

I got a hint somewhere recently of a comparison with the population of the greater Manchester area, which is correct. However, there is a vast difference between the delivery of services to an area the size of greater Manchester and an area the size of this country as the logistics in terms of geographic cover are vastly different. I would like clarification on that point.

With regard to residential mental healthcare for child and adolescent patients, residential places are non-existent at present and there is a huge crisis in that area, in particular for severely affected patients and those with emergency needs. Extraordinary things are happening and have been brought to the attention of my office. While I do not want to delay the meeting, there is an urgent and pressing need to deal with that situation to ensure the patients in question have a place to go in terms of residential care, and we must recognise that the problems become even more complex as patients get older.

That is enough for the moment. If I can ask more questions later, I will try to do so.

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