Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

I thank the Minister for Health and Children for her answer but the question I asked was would she provide enough money to the HSE west to bring ill people to hospital appointments. Patients requiring leg treatment will not get transport unless their leg is falling off from trauma but not if it is falling off from gangrene. I know of an elderly lady on a pension, whose family has a strong history of bowel cancer, who must have a check-up every year. She is expected to get her own transport home after being administered an anaesthetic. Does the Minister know that people on pensions must travel from Belmullet to Galway city, almost the same distance between Dublin and Galway? Can she imagine a pensioner in Dublin having to go to Galway for a hospital appointment at his or her own expense? Does this make sense? It is a scandal and outrage. How can the Minister stand over it?

Will the Minister provide enough money to the HSE to provide essential transport for those older people who need it? How can a pensioner pay €110 each way for a taxi to travel from Achill to Galway to have a pacemaker checked? It is my job as a Deputy to raise this matter in the House. I am outraged that the Minister has not responded to my specific question. The Minister has given so little moneys to the HSE west that it is now facing a €3.9 million deficit which is threatening the provision of emergency services. Does the Minister condone this situation? Why will she not provide additional moneys? What good is a review to a lady who must have her pacemaker checked but must borrow money to get a private taxi to do so? She, along with many more, deserves more. The categories of patients referred to by the Minister have been in place since March. What about those with cardiac failure, liver failure and other diseases?

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