Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

My colleagues have given good examples of the crisis that exists in accident and emergency units. It is significant that already we have such serious cases of overcrowding that patients must wait hours in accident and emergency units. I fear what will happen in the next few months because we have not yet reached the peak time for accident and emergency unit activity caused by outbreaks of various illnesses, especially among elderly people, due to poor weather conditions. The weather has not been too bad up to now.

This issue is urgent but I have not heard anything from the Government side to give the public any reassurance that something is in place to address the problems in accident and emergency units as winter approaches. I hope my prediction will not be fulfilled in the coming months but I very much fear that it will because there is no evidence that anything has changed in the year since the Tánaiste has become Minister for Health and Children.

I am concerned about this, as is the public. We have heard of appalling incidents such as those described by my colleagues Deputy Costello and Deputy Gilmore. Members of the public have described situations on the radio which nobody should have to put up with, both in terms of the impact on their health and also in terms of their personal dignity. People have a right to privacy and personal dignity from the public health service.

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