Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

At the time of the recent Cabinet reshuffle we were led to believe health was to be a priority of the Government. I listened to the Government and spin doctors stating what they were going to do. I thought the Government had learned its lesson at the local elections but it did not. I was prepared to give the new Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, an opportunity to deal once and for all with the health service but she has failed. She has allowed a situation to develop in which the unions and vested interests — doctors, general practitioners, consultants and others — control the health service while the Government has lost control.

This is highlighted by the Government's decision to guarantee 15,000 health workers that they will not be transferred and can remain in their current jobs, even if there are no jobs for them to do, despite the fact that the health service is in disarray. It is similar to the cases of Bord na Mona and the ESB in that we will be paying workers in the health service until they retire because the Government has done a deal with them. If it was serious about the health service, it would have had its business in order, would not have had a row with the unions and would have been able to make changes. It has ensured 15,000 workers will not have to reorganise or change, which is a disgrace. It has sold out the people.

Ireland is supposed to be medically advanced and have the best treatment available, yet I regularly meet people who have contracted MRSA or the hospital bug. One man told me he had gone into hospital with a serious illness, had contracted the hospital bug and had not been well for the past two or three years. What is going on in the health service? I was sick over Christmas and my doctor advised me to go to hospital. I said I would not go into hospital, that I would prefer to stay at home because I was afraid of contracting the hospital bug. Why can we not control this, given all the medication, personnel, doctors and funding available?

BreastCheck was made available in the east of the country and women in the west and surrounding areas were told it would be in place in their areas from 2005. We are now told it might not be in place until 2007 or 2008. This is discrimination against women. Why should women in the west and other areas have to wait that long? It would have been rolled out by now if the Government was serious about women's health. We have let women down and forgotten about them. This is wrong and should be dealt with.

I wish to deal with the Government's attack on the elderly, a matter on which I expect the Minister to respond later in the debate. I heard Deputy Twomey referring to the High Court and Supreme Court. I am going to bring a case shortly if the Minister of State does not do something about this matter. Let me cite an example of what is happening in the health service. I know of a woman in Ballycroy in north Mayo who is over 80 years of age. She had a hospital appointment 75 miles away. She is in receipt of a widow's pension and was always brought by the health board to the hospital for appointments. She has now received a letter from the health board, as have thousands more like her, telling her that it will no longer bring her to hospital for her appointments. How can this woman, on a pension of €150 a week, afford a taxi to bring her to Galway and back home again? She might have to make this journey two or three times a month. That is abuse of the elderly by the State. We preach about sick, weak and old people but this is the best we can do for them. When they retire and need transport to hospital services, the best we can do is send them a letter stating hospital transport will not be provided.

I want someone from the Minister of State's Department to deal with this matter immediately in order that he can respond tomorrow. There are no officials present. Why would there be? They can do what they like. They are guaranteed jobs for the rest of their lives in the package arranged by the Government. I want the Minister of State to note what I have said and respond; otherwise I will bring an elderly person into the High Court where I will say the woman mentioned was not treated properly, was not looked after and had been let down by the State. I want this matter dealt with quickly.

We have talked about the health service since the foundation of the State. We have talked about hospitals, doctors and improved services but all I see happening is that those involved in the service are getting richer, while patients are getting sicker. People are not getting the service they deserve.

Over Christmas people from Castlebar had to travel to Westport where there are a number of general practitioners. However, in spite of all the money they are getting under the GMS scheme, they could not even organise a rota system for Christmas. As they are receiving big money from the State, they should provide a service. If they are not going to do so, they should be removed from the scheme altogether. We should not have a situation where people in the county town of Mayo are expected to do without the services of a doctor for two weeks from Christmas Eve. This matter should be investigated and somebody should have to pay a price. If we are paying that kind of money, we should have a medical service, including GP cover during the holiday period.

We would not have had half as many in hospital if a GP had been on duty at that time. It was a sad situation for the people affected, some of whom had to travel 11 miles to another town to consult a doctor. The Government has had its chance and the people will speak in two years' time. What is happening is wrong. When somebody gets sick, he or she expects the best service and expects the State to be there for him or her. People pay their taxes and do not expect to be left on a hospital trolley. They expect to have access to doctors and nurses. They expect the best treatment possible but the Government has failed them and let them down. There is a shortage of doctors and consultants but no shortage of Government spin-doctors.

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