John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Members discuss or debate the issues regarding reform of how they and the State do their business and regarding the formation of a government, the need for a new departure in how the health services, the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive, HSE, are managed is becoming clear. I believe Dr. Ronan Fawsitt and other general practitioners, GPs, have outlined a new approach in this regard. This morning, I listened to Brendan Drumm advocate a 20-year plan based on an agreement between all the stakeholders, including Members of this House and the Minister, and I firmly believe this is the way to proceed. Nationwide, GP services are under serious pressure both financially and from the perspective of staffing. Members must understand the reason many newly qualified GPs are going away to places like Canada and so on. If it is money, structures or pressure within the services here, Members must consider how they will relieve all these factors. Consequently, a fresh approach, as well as a cross-party political approach, to health would save time and energy regarding how the health system is managed. As for country GP practices, it is impossible to get final decisions from the HSE on primary care centres, to get an extension to a community care setting or to get permission for a public health nurse in respect of a local practice. Moreover, rural GPs are under a lot of pressure regarding the delivery of a wide range of services in which they wish to get involved but cannot, due to time and pressure. Members must relieve this pressure and if they are serious about primary care centres, they should enter into this discussion and conversation that is going on through Brendan Drumm, Dr. Ronan Fawsitt and the many other GPs who now are holding public meetings.

Mental health services are in absolute chaos. Whether private or public, attempting to get the professional assistance individuals and families need in respect of mental health is chaotic. The number of suicides is significant and Members must ask themselves why. People have been under debt pressures from banks and other institutions, which has pushed them over the edge and they have ended up committing suicide. This is a serious problem at present and the mental health services are not equipped to do with it. One can get neither timely access to the professionals nor the required level of engagement through these professionals because they too are under pressure. I appeal to whatever Minister will be in place to ensure there is some change this regard. Similarly, in respect of community health care for the elderly, I refer to Newpark Close centre in my home parish where there is an elderly population. It is impossible to get either the service or engagement from the HSE and I ask the Minister to address this issue.

As Members sit in this Chamber, the issues in respect of the person known as Grace and sexual abuse in foster homes still remain to be dealt with. A commission of inquiry is to be set up and I ask for it to be included as just as much of a priority issue in a programme for Government as the legal issue arising from the courts will be taken as a priority. Those investigations into the foster care homes and into the rape and sexual abuse of young intellectually disabled men and women must be brought to a conclusion in the interests of their families, just as the case of Mary Boyle in County Donegal must be investigated. That campaign, which is being led by Margo O'Donnell, has raised significant concerns regarding child welfare and child protection. The Garda whistleblowers must be listened to in this regard in order that there can be an approach to these problems which can lead to reasonable hope for families and a reasonably healthy life thereafter.

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The same can be said about Lucia O'Farrell and the death of her son, Shane. It is a shame on this House that that inquiry led to nothing while all of the evidence spoken about in this House and available to Members of this House showed there needed to be an inquiry and an addressing of those cases, but it was not done.

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