Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

The Minister agreed with the Irish Cancer Society that it is not possible to clinically identify urgent cases. The response prepared for him by the HSE relies on the fact that so-called urgent cases are seen within 28 days. However, many cases of cancer, which could be advancing with detection, will not, therefore, fall within the urgent case cohort. That issue has not been dealt with. The only way this can be dealt with comprehensively is if the one month maximum waiting time is absolute in every hospital in every part of the country.

The Minister has, with respect, contradicted himself in his reply. I ask that he be more precise. Within which timeframe will every person needing a colonoscopy be given the procedure? Does the Minister accept that the pressure which hospitals are under in terms of resources militates against that type of service being available and that it is an urgent issue which must also be addressed by him?

In reality, this is a cancer waiting list. Poor people, those on modest incomes and affected by the recession and the tens of thousands forced out of private insurance are now potential victims in this scenario.

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