Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I welcome the Bill. I recognise the spirit in what the Minister of State and the Department have put forward and I believe it is correct. It is a step in the right direction. The concern I have is similar to that outlined by other Deputies earlier. The Minister of State is probably dealing with an elephant that is out of control in the line of the HSE. Basically, the executive does not seem to have regard for anything. Like numerous Deputies, I have seen how the HSE operates when we try to get answers. Everything we get back is twisted and turned and there is no direct answer to the questions we ask.

Unfortunately, in recent weeks I have seen a situation that has resulted in my losing faith in the HSE. I went to a house to talk to a person. I lay on tarmac with this person who has been left in continuous pain for the past three years after having a back operation. All the person wants is to get this solved. However, because of a hospital in the west of Ireland, things did not go according to plan. There was a review into the matter and a doctor resigned. Since there may be understudies involved with the doctor, the authorities are afraid to touch someone to put it right. That is a sad situation, especially because it involves a person with young children who is paying a mortgage and living life just the same as everyone else in the country.

I am concerned that the HSE is not trying to solve the case of this person who has been in such chronic pain for the past three years. This person has to go to Dublin but it takes an hour to get into the car. Then, the person has to go to Dublin for pain relief and pain control because no one will put up a hand and agree to sort it out at home.

I welcome the Bill and what the Minister of State is trying to do. However, in this situation the HSE is not even prepared to try to tackle a problem that can be solved. Thus, there is little hope that the HSE will turn around and admit things or admit that there is a problem that it should sort out.

I know legislation along the lines of the Bill has been discussed for years. I think it has been discussed for the past six or seven years. I commend the Minister of State on bringing forward the Bill. It is a step in the right direction. We may get the Bill in but, unfortunately, given what we are dealing with, we will still have trouble in trying to nail it down. Sadly, the HSE does not seem to have regard for the Government, Ministers, politicians or the public with regard to what is going on.

I will support the Bill, which I welcome. However, I have reservations about whether some of these groups will listen or take note. They might try to duck and dive every way rather than face up to their responsibilities. I have seen one family go through so much. I have seen a great deal with regard to the HSE over many years. Sometimes one would be forgiven for wondering what will be next. I have been down on the tarmac with another person who cannot walk and who is on hands and knees and has to lie face down. It would be unfair of any hospital in Ireland, but in this case a hospital in the west of Ireland has washed its hands of the person. Morphine is the only option at present. It has gone so far that the patient cannot be given any more - the doses cannot be increased. The hospital authorities have argued that the patient should go somewhere else. No one will stand up and take responsibility. This is evidence that we have a major problem. I realise what the Minister of State is doing with this Bill, but I am concerned that to even get that far with some of these hospitals will be a problem.

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