Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the motion. I agree with Deputy Buttimer that it is easy to claim the health service is in crisis. While it is generally accepted that there are problems in emergency departments, it is a little over the top to argue that every part of the health service is in crisis. Given that many parts of the health services, including all hospitals, are working well, it is unfair to hospital staff and general practitioners to describe the entire health service as a disgrace. Staff become disheartened when this type of language is used.

There is a problem in emergency departments. The issue of investment is repeatedly raised in this regard, although greater investment is not the only solution. It would be remiss of me not to mention Galway University Hospital's emergency department because, as the Taoiseach has admitted, it is not fit for purpose. Investment in the hospital's emergency department should be prioritised, especially as the hospital is probably the largest in the west. The Minister has visited the hospital on a number of occasions. It is unacceptable to witness carnage every time one enters the emergency department. The hospital desperately needs a new facility. While I am aware that plans for a new emergency department are in place, action should be taken to accelerate the process.

Deputy Buttimer also pointed out that people tend to end up in accident and emergency departments, regardless of the problem they are experiencing. For example, a constituent of mine contacted me some weeks ago about a problem he was experiencing with this teeth. While his case is not an emergency, he is in severe pain. Two weeks ago, he received a text message from Galway University Hospital informing him he was about to be given an appointment. An hour later, he received another text message informing him that the appointment was not for him and a mistake had been made. After months waiting for an appointment, he had his hopes raised and subsequently dashed. When he telephoned the hospital to seek an explanation, it was explained to him that a genuine mistake had occurred. He asked whether he would be seen more quickly if he presented at the emergency department. The person to whom he spoke agreed that it would be quicker to do this but the hospital would not advocate such a course of action. What business does this person have in the emergency department? He did not present at the emergency department because he would still have to wait for eight or nine hours to be seen. This type of case is much too common and means people with minor and major problems end up in the emergency department, many unnecessarily.

Deputy Catherine Byrne raised the issue of primary care services. I do not understand the reason the primary care system operates differently in different areas. It may be the result of a lack of leadership or management in the Health Service Executive. Some hospitals have systems that work well but have not been extended to other areas. This causes much frustration among patients. This phenomenon does not occur in Britain or other parts of Europe. A case in point is an arrangement in place in St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, which I learned about on a visit to the hospital. In Kilkenny, when people cannot be cared for in general practice, they are referred to the emergency department in St. Luke's Hospital. This process commences at this point and hospital staff know the patient will soon attend the emergency department. This practice has not been rolled out to other areas.

The Minister has indicated that he would like to remain as Minister for Health if Fine Gael were to form the next Government, provided more funding was provided for the health service and he had the power to make more decisions. The issue is not simply one of finance but one of management across the board. It is too easy to blame one area for all problems. As Deputy Buttimer stated, we need to have a conversation and someone will have to make difficult decisions. We have not had such a conversation for years. Instead, we hear two slogans, namely, that the health service is in crisis and that more money is needed. More money will not solve the problem. A similar issue arises with regard to the flooding crisis, which is also topical, in that the number of people in emergency departments will decline as the year proceeds but we will end up discussing this problem again at some future point. We must ensure the political focus remains on working towards the solutions that are required. People are frustrated because everyone seems to have the solution but no one is able to pinpoint how to achieve the right outcome. Until we do this, we will not have any success in this area.

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