Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not know if the Taoiseach saw last night's "Prime Time", which revealed a very serious analysis from Dr. Tony O'Connell, former national director of acute hospitals, in regard to the appalling situation within our emergency departments and in regard to delayed discharges. That analysis was written on 8 September, a month before the budget. He had some very telling things to say, including: “From a quality and safety perspective this situation is unacceptable... Frail, elderly patients risk nosocomial infections, falls, pressure ulcers, and medication errors." In terms of lengthening waiting lists and emergency department overcrowding, he said that both of these phenomena risk patient safety, delayed treatment for patients needing surgery and increased mortality for patients blocked in their transit through emergency departments. He also said that the solution is adequate funding of the social care sector and that the 2015 Estimates bid appropriately seeks additional funding for social care to address shortfalls in current funding levels.

The Minister was asked this morning about this matter. Of course, with his usual detached, commentator approach, and in a now common refrain from the Minister, he simply said, "It is not new to me" and that "It is going to get worse". His response to this was it is going to get worse. Therefore, there will be more people at risk of dying in our hospitals before the Government decides to get to grips with it.

The Taoiseach has been warned about this all along. From June 2014, the Government was warned about delayed discharges, the appalling cuts in the fair deal scheme and the fact that twice as many people are now waiting three times as long for fair deal scheme places. If we compare February 2014 to February 2015, the number of people waiting on trolleys has gone through the roof.

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