John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I welcome this opportunity to contribute to the debate and I thank Deputy Billy Kelleher for tabling the motion. Last Monday week I went with my colleagues, Deputies Twomey and Kehoe, to Wexford General Hospital to receive a briefing for Wexford Oireachtas Members. In the room with us were hospital managers, HSE managers and community welfare managers. I am not easily intimidated but there were so many people around the table I did feel a little intimidated by all of these managers who were there to tell us what we thought would be the factual situation.

However, the first document we received was on service plan achievements and the very first page dealt with primary care teams. It stated that in Enniscorthy, the design team has been engaged to respond to the schedule of accommodation. The same was stated with regard to Gorey. With regard to Wexford, which is one of the biggest urban centres in the county, it stated the respondents to the advertisements for primary care infrastructure have been unable to obtain GP engagement in the development and, accordingly, the Wexford local health office has been unable to progress with the development. It stated that in Rosslare, a site has been identified and accepted by the HSE but the developer is unable to obtain GP engagement.

These were presented as achievements by Mr. Healy who presented the information to us on the day. Obviously nothing is happening and nothing will happen. Perhaps the Minister will explain why there is no GP engagement in two of the areas. I understood from what he stated here that primary care is the way forward, but GPs refuse to engage in two or three areas where the HSE stated it had made achievements.

Wexford General Hospital will lose approximately 30 members of staff but those at the meeting had the cheek to tell us hospital services will not be affected. Waterford Regional Hospital and Wexford General Hospital must be taken together because they are the two main hospitals in the south east and serve a huge population area. We were told the closure of two operating theatres and 25 surgical beds in Waterford Regional Hospital would not affect services in the south east. Perhaps the Minister will explain how he will lose members of staff and close wards and surgical areas but the people of the south east will not be affected.

With regard to medical cards, we have the same problem as Deputy Dara Calleary outlined exists in Mayo. Some people have been waiting since last June or July for a medical card to be approved. The doctors in the Wexford area are very cynical about the situation. They feel it is a delaying tactic to save money. People who deserve to have medical cards, who are seriously ill and need them to get their medicines are being denied. I have tabled parliamentary questions on this matter. In fairness, if one gets through to those working in the centralised centre, they will do their best to help and support one. However, they state that because of a lack of staff, their hands are tied and they are not in a position to do anything about it.

The large management team at the meeting told us there will be a 4.5% cut in home help hours. The management states this will not affect older people, but how that might happen I do not know. When one telephones, one is told that people who have home help will continue to have the service but new applications will not be accepted.

The cuts in the home help service and the fair deal scheme must go hand in hand. We talk a great deal about taking people out of hospitals. There are a considerable number of people in Wexford General Hospital at present who would be able to leave if they got approval for the fair deal scheme. There are serious issues regarding that scheme in my county and the south east. Hundreds of patients are waiting to go into nursing homes but there is no funding within the scheme. I received a reply last December stating no money was available in County Wexford for the fair deal scheme and the only way new patients could be admitted would be if patients in the fair deal scheme were to pass away. That was an actual response I received - a disgraceful reply in the first place but also a disgraceful decision. The Minister might also explain where the money for the fair deal scheme is. Will he put money into the scheme and when will he do so?

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