Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry if the truth hurts. The ambulance service was mentioned. No one realises the situation until he or she must make the call. There is insufficient emergency cover in Longford. A number of weeks ago, two ambulance crews assigned to serve County Longford were called to Roscommon where there was a lack of resources. We all know where Fine Gael's credibility lies in County Roscommon. As a result of the reduction in Roscommon's services, there was a reduction in services for County Longford. That is not right or fair.

Given the figures that have been mentioned, do we tell an 82 year old woman who can barely walk and has been waiting in excess of 22 months for a knee operation that we are sorry, this is how the waiting list is and nothing can be done? We should remember that one of the Government's first decisions was to abolish the patient treatment fund, which was intended to provide such operations for people who had been waiting in excess of six months. That was a policy decision, whether the Deputies opposite care to admit it. There are many more people involved than just that lady. I am not unique in terms of the numbers approaching me with grievances about this matter.

I know for a fact that a part of the reason for there being such a problem with accident and emergency services is bed closures in the relevant hospitals. In the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar in my constituency, there are 16 fewer beds than there were in 2010.

Consequently, it is no wonder that now, or earlier this year, we experienced the highest trolley count on record. If the Government does not consider putting in adequate resources and ensuring there are sufficient beds in hospitals, the problems in accident and emergency units will continue.

I could go on at length and give examples of how the HSE is failing the people. I do not expect the Minister to micromanage the HSE and I do not expect him to know the difficulties faced in every hospital or in every service. However, I do expect the Minister to give up sitting on the sidelines and to give up telling the people what they already know about what is wrong with the health service. I expect him to start implementing the reform agenda he promised - that is, to start ensuring the money follows the patient, that the hospitals that are most efficient are rewarded, that there is more community care and primary care within communities and that the appropriate number of consultants are recruited. I expect him to live up to the commitments that were made in advance of the last general election in order that, at a minimum, Members can stand over a health service of which they can be proud and that Ireland can have a health service that will deliver for all citizens regardless of their means - that is, a health service that will deliver for the people based on their medical need, not based on their income.

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