Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

Donegal South-West is also in the north west. It is my information that this issue arose from the separation of the ambulance and hospital services that took place within the HSE. It is an indication of the dysfunctional way the HSE works. The separation of budgets between community care and hospital care causes all this friction and huge distress for patients throughout the country. It is vital that these issues do not arise again and I ask the Minister to ensure they do not. The distress it causes for very ill dialysis and cancer patients is unacceptable. Patients are entitled to transport and it should be provided regardless of empire building or empire protection within the ambulance service and the hospital service.

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