Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

The health service has suffered serious damage over the last six years. Budget cuts have amounted to some €3.5 billion and almost 12,000 staff have been lost to the service. The situation would be much worse than is currently the case but for the health service's dedicated and committed staff. We should pay tribute to staff across all categories who go beyond the call of duty every hour of every day. Together with under funding and lack of resources, demographic changes are exacerbating an already difficult situation for the health service. The population of those aged over 65 years is growing at double the EU rate and will increase by 20,000 people per year until 2021. The population of those aged between 80 and 84 years will have increased by 20,300 or 29% by 2021 and the population of those aged over 85 will increase by 26,800 or 46% in the same period.

These demographic changes and the under-funding of the health service give rise to a number of issues. The number of patients being forced to wait on trolleys and in chairs in accident and emergency departments is increasing. This is an unacceptable practice which is reminiscent of Third World conditions, with a lack of privacy, inadequate facilities and, often, non-existent bathroom and toilet facilities. We need to set up community intervention teams who can carry out procedures on people in their homes so they do not require admission to hospital. The fair deal scheme needs to be properly funded. The waiting time of 15 weeks is simply too long and even the proposed 11 weeks is unacceptable. We also need community services, such as additional home care assistance and home help, as well as additional appliances. Elderly people are waiting significant lengths of time for chairs, walkers, beds and wheelchairs. The hospital I know best is South Tipperary General Hospital, which is a progressive facility that is almost regional in its scope. Despite cuts of almost one quarter of its budget and up to 200 staff, its activity levels have increased significantly and it is working at 120% capacity. The number of trolleys has increased from 750 in 2011 to 3,100 in 2013. We need additional beds, including step down beds. Twelve beds were promised at Our Lady's hospital in Cashel. We also need additional nursing and support staff in accident and emergency departments.

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