Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend Deputy Kelleher on the motion. Accident and emergency units around the country are chronic at the moment. I am not saying it is not a question of money but I firmly believe it is a question of organisational skills. There has to be a full root-and-branch analysis of what is being done. In response to any letter representing a person in need of a hip replacement, a Deputy gets the same waffle back. It is stated that if the person deteriorates, he should go to his doctor, and that if it gets worse the Deputy should contact the HSE. It would be better off if the officials wrote, "Leave him in pain". It is as simple as that; that is what they are saying to us.

There is a three-year waiting list for orthodontic treatment for young children. That is the reality of what we are dealing with. With regard to hearing and eyesight tests, there is a state of disarray. Two children in my constituency need a spinal operation but nobody is listening to them or examining them. With regard to trolleys, the service is in chaos. The hospitals in Ballinasloe and Galway have patients out the door.

We have to start with a root-and-branch analysis of the health service. When we train a doctor, are we to let him or her go to Australia or not? If €500,000 is spent on training a doctor, are we to say to him or her, "Away with you and good luck to you". Should there be no patriotism or payback to one's country?

Why do we not consider the circumstances of general practitioners? Their representatives were in last week. A general practitioner could take over a rural practice at present but would not get the rural allowance. There should be a full analysis of where we are going in the health service.

For Deputies, what is happening is frustrating and disgusting. I am sick to the teeth of getting back lovely one-liners stating that the Minister is not responsible for the issue raised. When one writes to the Minister highlighting an issue, one is told the HSE is responsible. When one writes to the HSE, one gets another letter in response. I am sick of seeing the names of the same people writing the same stuff in response. All one has to do is put a name at the bottom, and the same words come in every letter. That is disgusting. We are going nowhere.

Someone has to start calling the shots. As I stated, I do not believe it is a question of money. We are putting layers of bureaucracy in place. I heard of a case where there was a problem but, instead of solving it, we added another layer of management. Front-line staff are not being put on the ground. If this continues, we will see chaotic scenes in the hospitals around the country in January of next year. No one wants to see that.

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