John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I acknowledge that there has been a major problem since the Christmas period in the accident and emergency departments at all hospitals. I welcome the action taken in recent days which has seen the problem reduce dramatically. The Minister, the HSE and the emergency department task force are meeting to address it in the short term initially and then obviously in the longer term.

I have also seen the extreme trauma and stress that patients, their families and the front-line staff are experiencing in the accident and emergency departments. I recently visited Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar and saw that at first hand. I commend the nurses and doctors on the extreme efforts they are making in difficult circumstances.

While Mayo General Hospital has been no exception to what has gone on in recent weeks, over recent years Mayo General Hospital has done very well in reducing the problems in the accident and emergency department even though it has been taking increased numbers since the accident and emergency department in Roscommon hospital closed. That was on reduced budgets and increasing numbers. I commend the hospital manager, Mr. Charlie Meehan, and all his staff on their efforts in doing that.

Having listened to the debate over the past 15 minutes and last night, it seems to be a question of throwing money at the problem.

Mayo General Hospital managed to reduce the queues at the accident and emergency unit over the past couple of years on reduced budgets.

This is a problem that has been around for 15 years and that was overseen by the Fianna Fáil and Green Party Government, and by Fianna Fáil as the major part of Governments over ten of that 15 years. It was with some disbelief that I saw this motion being tabled, even though it gives us all a chance to discuss a problem that needs to be solved. During that ten-year period the country was awash with money, and the conception and birth of the HSE came to pass. Layer upon layer of management positions were filled, yet during the worst period, from 2004 to 2006, patients in accident and emergency departments were afraid to ask to be brought to the toilet because their trolley would be occupied by another patient when they came back.

The Minister has been criticised for his lack of action on this. What I heard him outline yesterday and in recent days was far better and more effective than 147 reports costing €1 million, about which nothing was done.

I want to be balanced about this. There are many factors contributing to the problem, such as delayed discharges and an aging population. Health is, by its nature, a demand-led service, and as a result it is very difficult to decide on budgets to solve the problem. I have spoken in the Chamber on a number of occasions about the Fair Deal issue. There was an increase in the waiting time from five to 17 weeks last year, and there is a need to remove the cap, which would free up hospital beds. I understand that 40% of beds in step-down facilities in Mayo are occupied by people waiting for clearance for the Fair Deal scheme. It is an issue that needs to be addressed.

Long-term solutions need to be put in place, such as providing primary care centres - I am glad to see three will be provided in Mayo, starting this year, in Claremorris, Ballinrobe and Westport - and community care packages so that patients do not have go to accident and emergency departments but can avail of a safety valve to give them the best treatment outside of these departments. I look forward to the short-term and long-term solutions to come in the near future.

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