Dáil debates

Tuesday, 22 November 2005

4:00 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

As usual, the Taoiseach answers every question about health matters with a pained expression, a flurry of figures, a litany of what has been spent and a firm resolve to do better. Will the Taoiseach acknowledge — we have heard all this before — that in his letter, Dr. O'Reilly states that he has been trying to resolve these issues for four years? Of course, Cork University Hospital is a wonderful building, a flagship hospital, and many of the people there do a wonderful job. However, this is about the level of service delivered inside the walls of the hospital. The specialists and frontline people are not there and dedicated staff in the wards are not available to patients when they need them.

The Taoiseach's Government has shown an unlimited capacity to spend the people's money. We remember the fanfare and the failure attached to the health strategy. We remember the €160 million spent on PPARS, the €3 million spent on the web portal of the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin. It is not about what one spends but how one delivers that spend.

The Taoiseach might not believe my words and might say that they are purely political. Let me quote from a letter from a constituent of Deputy Jim O'Keeffe's about her mother:

On the 23rd of October, my mother lay in bed at home crying with pain and Dr. O'Reilly could offer us no help as the hospital are short of beds and staff. We were forced to watch a lady, with pride and dignity, dying in front of us, due to a failing health service and for this I am angry, hurt and lacking confidence in Mary Harney's effort at reform... The following day I brought her to Cork University Hospital and again she was in a waiting room from 9 a.m. until she was given a bed in what I would call appalling conditions, 11 hours later. This ward was a rapid transit ward and although these staff were outstanding, patients were subjected to a distinct smell of urine and, I believe, unhealthy conditions in general. It was three days before she was transferred to a proper ward. Rapid transit? I don't think so.

These are the words of a constituent about her mother, in respect of whom the Taoiseach is spending money, her money, and the services are not being delivered. A world class health service? I do not think so.

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