Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The Taoiseach is saying that in Ireland in 2007 it is normal for patients suffering from cancer and cardiac problems to have their appointments cancelled. I have a letter from a woman from the former Southern Health Board area dated 23 January. She has cardiac problems and on instructions from her GP was rushed to Cork University Hospital. She has now received a letter stating that her appointment for an x-ray examination would be on Wednesday, 5 December 2007 at 10 a.m. She received a second letter on the same day, stating that her appointment for an x-ray examination would be on Friday, 7 December 2007 at 11 a.m. Two letters were sent to the same woman suffering from a heart condition advising her of an x-ray on two different dates in December — she is expected to wait for a year. How can that be justified?

The cancer strategy has already been derailed. The cystic fibrosis area is in crisis and money is unspent. The negotiations on the common contract for consultants are logjammed. The doctor-only medical cards have not been taken up. Now we have the problems in St. James's Hospital.

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