Ms Phil Ní Sheaghdha:

We do not see universal access based on need at the moment, nor have we seen it for the past number of years. We certainly do not imagine it will happen any time in the future unless there is fundamental change to the implementation of Sláintecare, inclusive of, at the highest level of the Government, responsibility for implementation. We have gone further than that in our submission and said that this is fundamental. Ms McGowan works in a hospital and can give a first-hand account of patients not being treated in a manner that would be classified as dignified or safe in most of our emergency departments. That is not due to any fault of those who work in these departments but simply because of the environment, overcrowding and missed care. The long waits on trolleys, as stated earlier, are now causing problems for recovery and people are having negative outcomes as a result.

In addition, we now have cross-infection with Covid and airborne disease. Imagine 520 people on trolleys today in overcrowded environments with an airborne pathogen in the environment. It is simply wrong. It is inhumane. Unless there is real action taken to implement and fast-track Sláintecare, it will not change. We cannot change it but we will continue to highlight every single day what is inappropriate, what is inhumane and what is simply not tolerable for patients or for staff.