Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The ongoing crisis in our health service is nothing short of disgraceful, and I do not choose that word lightly. The delivery of health services has deteriorated severely in recent years. This has happened in conjunction with the Fine Gael-Labour Party Government's policy of austerity. Various cuts in the service have left citizens more vulnerable when entering the health system. Nurses, doctors and other hospital staff work extremely hard in the face of exceptional difficulties arising from cutbacks. They are overworked and under-resourced. Only for their hard work and determination the situation would be a lot worse.

We were promised that the scandal of patients being left on trolleys would be addressed by the previous Government, but this has not happened. In fact, the number of patients on trolleys reached a new high under the Fine Gael-Labour Party Administration. Yesterday, 323 patients were on trolleys throughout the country. At Beaumont Hospital in my constituency, 37 patients were recorded as being on trolleys. Furthermore, the cancellation of elective surgical procedures, while less mentioned, is a central part of the fallout relating to fewer hospital beds.

Last week, I was contacted by a patient whose surgery was cancelled at the last minute for the second time. This is completely unfair and unacceptable. In recent days, an equally unacceptable and deplorable act has taken place. HSE officials have said that €12 million of the €35 million ring-fenced for mental health in the previous budget is now being diverted to other health areas. The threat of €12 million being taken away from the mental health budget is deplorable. It is indicative of a Government that is out of touch with the realities faced by many who suffer mental health issues.

Successive governments have failed to provide an adequate level of mental health services. This is despite the fact that one in seven adults has experienced mental health difficulties in the past year. The situation is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue. People's lives are being put at risk because of the failed policies of previous governments. There must be a cross-party consensus to solve the health service crisis. I implore all Deputies to support a range of imaginative and intelligent solutions in order that together we can solve the crisis in our health system.

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