James Breen (Clare, Independent)

How can the Government stand over the millions of euro that have been squandered in the name of health over the past seven years? When will the Government stand up and take notice of what is happening to ordinary people when they enter the health service? Hospitals are going backwards instead of forwards. The shortage of doctors and nurses, particularly at weekends, is adding serious stress and trauma to patients and medical staff alike. When will the Government listen to the doctors and nurses who are trying to carry out their duties under atrocious and depressing conditions? This situation cannot continue. It needs to be addressed immediately. It is unfair to expect one or two doctors to cover an entire hospital at weekends.

There is a two-tier health service in this country. If one can afford to pay for treatment one will get it instantly, but the outcome for those on medical cards is not so good. Waiting lists for services are on the increase and people wait well over 12 months for treatment that they have a right to receive. We should examine other countries that have successful health services and must not be afraid to adopt their best practices.

The new Minister for Health and Children needs to adopt a common sense approach. She must be prepared to tackle the bureaucracy, examine critical staffing levels in each hospital and ensure that money is spent on patient care, thus fulfilling the Government's promises. What measures does the Minister intend to put in place to counteract the crisis caused by the MRSA super-bug, which is now rampant in Irish hospitals?

Will the Minister inform us when the 1,000 extra beds promised by the Government will be delivered? When will the extra medical cards be provided? Will the Minister admit that the Hanley report will never be implemented in full because it is impossible to implement something that would further degrade the health service? The list of such questions continues and every time health issues are raised the list becomes longer.

There have been enough empty promises. I challenge the Government, particularly the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to sort out the overcrowding of our accident and emergency units, to tackle vigorously outpatient waiting lists so they will be eliminated, provide an air ambulance service for citizens living in rural areas, develop oncology services in hospitals throughout the country and fulfil the promises made.

The people of Clare want to know when Ennis General Hospital will be upgraded. I will keep asking these questions each time health issues are raised in the House in an effort to put forward the views of the people of Clare and, indeed, other counties. It is time for the Government to provide answers. There should be no more empty promises.

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