John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The stated objective of this country's health service is that "staffing levels ... should be driven primarily by the need to achieve optimal health and quality of life". HIQA has said that the standards at Ireland's maternity hospitals, for example, are 30% lower than the standards recommended across Europe. There are 4,000 people on the waiting list and there is a four year backlog at the orthopaedic department at Waterford Regional Hospital in my city. As I have said previously, the number of consultant staff in the department was reduced by 25% over a two month period this summer. I have gone out to the hospital on a number of occasions and seen patients on trolleys. When my 86 year old father was taken to hospital two months ago, he had to wait on a trolley for 14 hours before he was given a bed. I do not know who is giving the Minister his information but it is not the case that there has been a reduction in the use of trolleys in accident and emergency departments. If the Minister goes to some of our hospitals to look at the conditions there, he will see that the contrary is the case. I am reporting and recording what is happening at Waterford Regional Hospital, which is one of this country's major hospitals.

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