Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the important issue of health and the urgent need for action in this country. Yesterday, we had 522 people on hospital trolleys. Beaumont Hospital in my constituency had 44 people on trolleys. These are our people, our senior citizens and our sick on trolleys. We have a crisis in this country. Does the Taoiseach accept we have a crisis when it comes to the health system, particularly in accident and emergency departments?

What is the Taoiseach's vision and plan for the health service? I also strongly challenge the Taoiseach on the gross misrepresentation of the beds issue. Between 300 and 350 people have died as a direct result of overcrowding in our accident and emergency departments. There is a desperate situation and crisis in our health service. That is twice the number of people who die on the roads each year. The Government spin comes out with claims that it is not about beds but that it is a more complex issue than that. Dr. Fergal Hickey, an emergency medicine consultant at Sligo General Hospital, recently said:

Undoubtedly we need a sustained programme to develop additional bed capacity both in acute hospitals but also in community facilities. More suitable facilities for those with chronic medical conditions and a greater capacity to better care for those elderly patients who need more acute, though not necessarily hospital care, are also urgently required.

It is about beds.

Six months ago, I walked the accident and emergency department at Beaumont Hospital with a group of doctors and nurses. They were looking for between 80 and 100 beds. The Minister for Health last week was bragging on radio and television that he was going to give Beaumont Hospital 30 beds. That will not even take the 44 people off the trolleys there. What is the Taoiseach going to do about the health service and, in particular, the people on trolleys in our hospitals?

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