Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)

The reality for ordinary people is completely different from what is set out in the Government amendment. The Sinn Féin Party's proposal is far more representative of the true situation. This morning the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine issued an alarming statement on the crisis in hospitals throughout the State, with a particular focus on children's hospitals. At Crumlin hospital, in my constituency, children are waiting 12 hours on a trolley and 24 hours to be admitted to a bed. The number waiting on trolleys there has increased by 700% in the past seven years. Temple Street hospital is described by the association as "significantly overcrowded". At St. Vincent's hospital, meanwhile, 40 patients were waiting for beds yesterday morning, with 60 to 70 awaiting treatment in the accident and emergency department.

All of this is in stark contrast to the claims made by the Government about the health service. There is a crisis in hospitals in terms of access to beds, particularly in the winter, yet no account has been taken of this by the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, in his plan for health services delivery. Beds must be reopened without delay, particularly for cystic fibrosis patients at St. Vincent's hospital. One such patient had to wait overnight in the accident and emergency department before being admitted. That is a terrible indictment of the health service. We all know that cystic fibrosis sufferers should not be left in an open ward or accident and emergency department for any length of time. The bottom line was that the hospital had no bed to cater for this patient. The Government amendment does not reflect reality. I urge the Minister to ensure beds are reopened in the winter.

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