David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is quite an elevation. Hospitals are at breaking point. Several have already begun cancelling scheduled care to cope with overflows from record emergency department admissions. Yesterday morning, more than 515 patients were admitted to hospital without a bed. They were left on trolleys or chairs in ward corners, corridors and waiting rooms. Last week, more than 1,800 patients were languishing on hospital trolleys. The Saolta University Health Care Group, which serves the north-west and west regions, is worst affected, along with Limerick, Cork and Waterford university hospitals.

The cancellation of elective and often time-sensitive care is unsustainable. It will lead to the worsening of conditions, physical health and mental well-being. Last month, the chief executive officer of the University Limerick Hospitals Group stated that the Irish Patients Association is quite right to point out that significant reductions in scheduled care are not sustainable in the long term.

The truth is that we need more staff and capacity in public hospitals but this Government and the previous Government have failed to deliver.

Consequently, many healthcare staff are considering leaving the service. They tell me that all the time. It does not give them any pleasure to do so, but they say it is because they do not feel valued or respected and they are burnt out. Day in, day out, healthcare workers are dealing with crisis after crisis on the front line. They forgo lunch and annual leave because they know that if they take such breaks, they will heap more pressure on their colleagues and cause patients to suffer. This level of moral injury is unsustainable and unacceptable. The Tánaiste will have seen recently front-line nurses have been protesting outside some hospitals because of unsafe staffing levels. What is the Government's plan to address the appalling working conditions to help retain our highly skilled healthcare workers?

I am also hoping the Tánaiste can confirm the Government's intention to address the issues raised by student nurses and midwives, who are again protesting outside the Dáil today. They should not have to protest. It is disgraceful that people who are trying to do their best in our health services have to come to the Dáil to protest to get the Minister for Health to act on what has been a running sore and a long-running issue, namely, fair pay and allowances for student nurses and midwives. A temporary pandemic payment was put in place at the end of this academic year, but we need a permanent solution. That means a permanent solution for fourth years and for first, second and third years.

I am shocked, but not surprised, that the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, and, indeed, other healthcare trade unions learned of the changes to the intern pay rates in The Irish Timesthis morning, like everyone else. This is an industrial relations issue; they should not have to wait to read it in the newspapers. There should have been discussions with the public health trade unions, and yet that is not what happened.

What is happening is unacceptable. Student nurses are telling me in their droves, and I have met many student nurses and midwives over the course of the past year, that they want to work in our public health services and be part of ensuring we deliver the best, world-class healthcare services we all want. However, if they do not feel valued and respected, they are going to leave. We need to recruit and retain more nurses.

When will the McHugh review be published to give clarity on its recommendations? Will there be discussions and negotiations with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and other healthcare trade unions so that fair pay and allowances can be put in place for student nurses and midwives?

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