Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The motion says our health service is underfunded. Michael Keary of Rochestown in Wexford was admitted to Beaumont Hospital on Monday night and his son Patrick wrote to me last night. This is his letter:

My father recently started chemo in Beaumont Hospital. He was home for a few days when he got an infection and was requested to return to hospital on the night of 1 December by his own doctor. On arrival, Michael was very weak and unwell. His health continued to deteriorate throughout the night. He was informed that there would neither be a bed or a trolley available for him to spend the night. He was assigned a very uncomfortable chair using his coat as a pillow. Michael had previously been told to stay away from anyone with infections. The chair which he was allocated was among people with a vomiting bug and other contagious infections. Michael asked for a drink of water and nobody could assist as cups were unavailable. Throughout the night, Michael became so uncomfortable his only option was to lay on the floor. Following him laying on the floor, his blood pressure dropped and his heart started to race. They put him on a heart monitor because of concern for his health and only then did they manage to provide him with a trolley.

Michael is 59 years of age and has been in good health up to this point. He has never depended on the public health service before and has paid health insurance throughout his life. He was very disappointed with the assistance he received when it was most needed. It is not a good country to be unwell.

We know the staff cannot magic up trolleys and beds and can only work with what they have. We also know our health service needs help. In our last budget, we cut some taxes and there is talk of cutting more in the next one. The Government would be better advised to spend its money by investing more in the health service rather than to cut taxes.

See this speech in context