Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We all know that the hospital waiting list times are appalling and something needs to be done to alter the situation. I believe that no patient who is in pain should have to languish on any waiting list for any long period. Fianna Fáil wants to see legislation similar to what has been enacted in Scotland whereby there would be a guaranteed maximum waiting time for any procedure, whether an inpatient or day case patient. The maximum time under the legislation in Scotland is 12 weeks. There are two hospitals in Louth, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and Louth County Hospital. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital has over 446 people on waiting lists for over three months while Louth County Hospital has over 155. It is too long for people, particularly those who are in pain. It is shameful that we have over 10,000 children nationally who have been waiting over 18 months for an outpatient appointment. I have had representations, like many in this House, from many families of those children. It can be extremely frustrating to have a child who one knows needs attention from a consultant and needs pain relief left waiting. Apart from making greater use of the National Treatment Purchase Fund, I have been amazed, since I came into this House, that not just the National Treatment Purchase Fund but the Cross Border Directive have been so badly advertised. One would expect that in a Border county like my own and right across the Border region, people would be aware of it. I call on the Minister of State to ensure that proper advertising about this is put in both hospitals and general practitioners' clinics to make people more aware of it.

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