Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's answer indicates a complete disconnect between the Government and what is happening in hospitals. The difficulties in emergency departments have nothing to do with people getting sick and presenting there. They are to do with the fact that there were 300 fewer staff nurses employed in the health system in October compared with last December, 350 consultant vacancies where consultants are not available to attend and a further 350 consultant posts filled by non-consultants. Deputy McConalogue has consistently highlighted that in Letterkenny, despite a promise from the local Minister that 20 extra beds would be opened this year, only ten extra beds have been opened. That is where the difficulties lie.

Emergency departments are under-resourced and understaffed. The necessary nursing and consultant resources are not in place. The Minister cited the winter plan, but no new beds will be opened and no new staff will be appointed under that plan. All of these issues affect the ambulance service and the good work it tries to do. While I know the Minister will be personally committed to this, I ask her to ensure that there is no repeat of this occurrence in the system. Unless the Government deals with the staffing and resource situation, I regret to say that there probably will be.

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