Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for giving me the opportunity to address the witnesses. I thank the witnesses for their opening statements.

I want to refer to a few points that have already been made. The Minister began by referring to the additional bed capacity required for the mid-west region. He pointed to the fact that the mid-west has the lowest number of beds per population among the six regions. This is the rationale for the additional bed capacity that is called for. The frustration in the likes of County Clare is that we do not have an alternative or another emergency department in the county. We are the only county in the whole of Munster that does not. There are many indications in this regard to be considered. The Minister said there are nuances concerning the additional emergency department. Could he give further details on those? The HIQA report, as mentioned by Deputy Shortall, points to the fact that there is an additional emergency department needed, and that this was the only way we would address the overcrowding experienced in the region.

The Minister said the emergency department was going in a different direction last year. Maybe he could return to that point. I understand surgical capacity in UHL was triggered every day of 2023. Is there conflicting information? What is it that the Minister said was going in the right direction when it came to UHL specifically?

I might as well return to the subject of poor Aoife Johnston. The Minister mentioned he is going to have a meeting with her parents, which is great to hear. They have been clear so far and they need a statutory inquiry. The Minister has pointed to the length of time not being helpful. When it comes to this significant loss, to which the Minister alluded, time is not an issue for the family. Obviously, they would want answers as quickly as possible to help them through the grieving process, but, in the greater scheme of things, it is a matter of them achieving accountability and, in effect, being able to point to who is at fault. When you have experienced the kind of loss in question, it is an injustice and you want somebody to be held accountable for it. As we know, the grief will never go away. It is lifelong for the family. Bearing that in mind, the Minister can appreciate that time is possibly not a factor for the family. Is the meeting set up or is it something the Minister hopes to achieve in the coming days?

An elderly man was left waiting over two and a half hours for an ambulance in west Clare. There was a great deal of backwards and forwards and eventually the decision was made to airlift the individual. Why was this decision not made earlier, and why was the man only provided with paracetamol during the period?

Last week, representatives of the INMO and SIPTU were before the health committee. Their message, which is that circumstances are not safe, was really concerning. The Minister has pointed to safer staffing levels but, with the pay and numbers and strategy brought into effect, I cannot help but point out the number of vacancies in UHL. Currently, there are 240.42 whole-time equivalent nursing vacancies in UHL. SIPTU, the time of the meeting, was able to provide information to me indicating that there were over 70-odd healthcare assistant vacancies also 70-odd support staff vacancies. Therefore, there are significant deficits across all grades. While we were happy to see the lifting of the embargo, what is now happening is affecting public confidence, even in respect of public representatives. If we are just to replace the language and give the same result at the end of the day, it will affect confidence and the belief in whether there is conviction on the part of the Government. What we have heard is that REOs are being put in a situation in which the one that shouts the loudest will get the most. Is that the situation we are facing? It was pointed out that we would be robbing Peter to pay Paul, which is ludicrous in a health system.

The representatives also pointed to the bureaucratic process in place whereby recruiters cannot even advertise posts that are to become vacant until the vacancy actually arises. The entire process to fill a vacancy takes about six months. I wanted to raise this with the witnesses directly and saw this meeting as an opportunity because, in many respects, the process is tying the hands of trying to bring about safe staffing levels, which is what we are saying is required. That is the space we need to be in.

I wish to refer to many of the announcements that have been made, including on the additional beds to be made available in the region, which will be the equivalent of a model 4 hospital and a model 3 hospital. With respect, we are not there yet. Nobody in County Clare will be jumping for joy, especially considering we have only had an additional 118 beds thus far. It has been stated that once everything is delivered and the investment is made, we will have the second highest level in the country. When will that be?

I am really happy that Senator Maria Byrne was able to talk about the differences in the timelines for delivery. The Minister said he might have misspoken, but I have got the timelines in responses. I have noticed a pattern in this regard. Each time I ask a question about the satellite haemodialysis unit coming to Ennis General Hospital, the timeline I am given changes.

The second 96-bed block that is to be delivered-----