Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have seen those hours reduced. There are difficulties whereby public health nurses are under extreme pressure to deliver care in the community. If the Minister does not believe me, he should talk to them. They are providing care on a shoestring budget and under great personal sacrifice in terms of the commitment they are making day in, day out to provide care in the community. That is a critical part of care in the community. GPs are under pressure, which means patients and customers may not be afforded the time they need for consultation and any treatments they may require.

The Minister referred to shifting chronic illness out of the acute hospital setting. While he should do it, he cannot do it at the expense of another person who cannot see his GP on the same day as a result. If the Minister is referring to shifting these medical treatments out of hospitals and into GP surgeries, he must resource it in some way to ensure those who need GP services are not discommoded.

One thing people value is the fact that they can access a GP within 24 hours. If the Minister continues down the road he is going, people will be unable to see their GP within a 24 hour period. It is not a question of Billy Kelleher saying this. Doctors are saying it by getting on the aeroplane and leaving the country.

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