Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will begin with some statistics. Between the various hospitals in Cork, there are 31,265 people on outpatient lists and 998 inpatients on waiting lists while 707,000 people are waiting lists nationally. Statistics can serve a good or bad purpose. On the one hand, they are evidence of a reality and outline the scale of a problem. In this instance, that is quite stark. A total of 707,000 people are on waiting lists in a State where the population is only about 5 million. A total of 35,000 or so people are on waiting lists in a city and greater region with a population of 300,000. In both instances, that is in or around one in ten or over one in ten for the State as a whole so the scale of this is enormous.

On the other hand, statistics can obscure the reality of each of those individuals and the situations they face because these people are not simply waiting. They are suffering, their condition is deteriorating, their pain is increasing, their options are reducing, their health is declining and in quite serious circumstances, their prognosis is in serious decline. This is particularly stark in disciplines such as obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, neurology and, obviously, mental health. I also note the serious waiting list that exists in Cork University Maternity Hospital, which is a absolute scandal. The numbers are way above national averages and the hospital is desperate need of further investment.

This needs to be resolved. It is not just a question of resources. There is also the question of management. Sometimes there is a lack of common sense. I came across a case recently where a lady needed an ultrasound for two knees.

She was in contact with the hospital and then received two different dates for the two knees. She spoke to the receptionist who was trying to arrange it, and who obviously had no control over it, and said to her, "Look, I will be bringing both knees with me on the day". Nonetheless, it ended up being done on two different days.

Deputy O'Reilly has clearly given real options. This is not just a debate that is trying to put it up to the Government. We have given alternatives which have been on the table for some time. The Government needs to implement them.

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