Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This Government was elected 18 months ago on a mandate from the people for reform, including reform of our health system, which was left on life support by the previous Government. Before the election Deputy James Reilly said: "I know there will be blood on the floor and I know some of it will be mine, but I relish the prospect of being health Minister." Nobody can claim he was complacent coming into office. He knew it was going to be tough, and it is tough but so is he.

Let us look at what has happened in the past year. The Minister is overseeing radical changes to replace the dysfunctional aspect of the HSE, initiating its replacement by a seven-person directorate overseeing hospital care, primary care, mental health, children and family services, social care, public health and corporate services. One of the biggest projects initiated was the immensely successful setting up of the special delivery unit in the Department of Health. The figures speak for themselves. The initiative has already brought about a 20% year on year reduction in the number of patients waiting on trolleys; a reduction from an all-time high of 569 patients on trolleys on 5 January 2011 under the Fianna Fáil Government, to 139 on 7 September 2012, a 75% reduction. Overall, surgical waiting list numbers have decreased by 7%, while those waiting over 12 months have decreased by 85%, and those waiting over nine months by 63%. A national carers' strategy was published over the summer. New legislation that grants every qualified GP the automatic right to treat medical card patients, represents a watershed moment in the history of Irish medicine. We saw the introduction of a cervical cancer vaccination catch-up programme for all girls in secondary schools.

In May of this year the campaign group Mental Health Reform welcomed the Minister's decision to proceed with establishing a new structure for the HSE. It will include a new directorate of mental health. This week, an agreement was reached with hospital consultants and health service management that will generate savings up to €200 million through new rosters, saving 70,000 bed days. Large capital projects take time to deliver, and this Minister will deliver. I have every confidence in him.

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