Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

I am pleased to make two brief points on the motion sponsored by the Independents. The motion outlines the numbers on trolleys in some Dublin hospitals, which are scandalous, but this is not confined to Dublin. In Sligo General Hospital, my local hospital, there is a serious problem. Last week there were approximately 20 people without beds in the accident and emergency department and in the day service unit and the hospital had to cancel admission for a few days. While the situation is not so acute this week, there were four people without beds on Tuesday and Wednesday and three last night. These figures may not be as headline grabbing as those for some of the Dublin hospitals, but nonetheless there is a real problem.

Deputy Blaney outlined the position in Letterkenny General Hospital, the other major hospital in the old North Western Health Board area, where there are serious problems with bed capacity and the accident and emergency services are totally inadequate. Nobody should be lying on a trolley. It is unacceptable that those who are ill are left waiting for a bed. Whether the figure is four or 44 we are speaking of individuals, children, grandfathers and mothers. It is only when it happens to a family member that we fully realise this is totally unacceptable. The Minister has been in office for just over 100 days and prior to that the then Ministers for Health and Children, Deputies Martin and Cowen, presided. Each year, especially during these months, the situation reaches crisis point.

Deputy Grealish told the House that people lying on trolleys do not consider the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, responsible. I would like to know who is responsible. Is this a rudderless ship? The Government has the power to change the position and to make decisions and as an Opposition we must hold it accountable. If the Government and the Minister are not responsible, who is?

We were informed by the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, that there will be a new vigour in the Government approach. This is long overdue and it is way past time. It is the business of Government to deal with these issues speedily and efficiently and this has not been done. This is the reason that we, as Independents, have tabled this motion. He also said it was unfair to dedicated medical and support staff. It is not unfair to highlight the problem — it is imperative that we do so. It is grossly unfair that medical staff have to work under such conditions and to endure such pressure. If the Minister and the Government value the work of the dedicated medical and support staff, for their sake and that of the patients they need to deal with the problems in accident and emergency departments.

Deputy Connolly referred to the fact that the population has increased by 25% during the past 20 years while the number of beds has decreased by 25%. It was a Fianna Fáil-led Government that eliminated the hospital beds and it has not replaced them. This is the core issue. The question is how to deal with it.

In Sligo General Hospital space is a problem. At present a multi-disciplinary committee is considering the provision of a medical assessment unit and a medical short stay unit. This is badly needed but it will require considerable capital investment. If the Government is serious about solving the accident and emergency problem in Sligo and surrounding areas it must commit to the investment needed and put that medical assessment unit in place to ease the intolerable burdens on the accident and emergency service in Sligo.

I wish to refer to a related issue — the availability of accident and emergency services within a reasonable distance for everybody in the country. I welcome the reinstatement of 24 hour emergency medical cover in Monaghan General Hospital, but why did it have to take a massive campaign to achieve it? Why did it take people to march outside Leinster House for days and weeks on end? Why did it take 10,000 people marching the streets of Ennis to force a U-turn on Government policy? Will it require constant agitation, constant vigilance, and can the people of west Clare rest easy in their beds knowing that if an emergency arises they can go to Ennis General Hospital for treatment? At the end of the day people will travel anywhere for elective surgery, whether heart surgery or hip replacement, and will even travel abroad. If a person's life is in danger he or she needs to get to hospital. Accident and emergency services must be upgraded immediately and must be available to all citizens.

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