Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this motion. I think every Member of the House agrees, from a human point of view, on where we need to get to and that we are not starting from where we want to be. Plenty has been said about the need to move properly to Sláintecare and a universal healthcare system that is free at the point of entry and provides care from cradle to grave. All those statements we make from time to time can seem somewhat trite but it is about a decent health system that works for our people.

On the medical card, we have all engaged on cases where somebody did not get a medical card as of right while suffering from cancer. We play the game, make the effort, try to get the card one way or another and eventually end up in that position because it is hard to refuse someone in those circumstances. However, it is a whole rigmarole that is not necessary, does not make sense and creates further hassle and effort for a family going through something difficult. The focus of patients should be on protecting their health and getting through an incredibly difficult process, such as radiation treatment or chemotherapy.

I think everybody is in agreement that the debt collection stuff has to stop. It is wrong for people under pressure to have this kind of communication or interaction for small money. Some of these debts should not accrue in any case. We need to get to that point.

Deputy Gould was trying to get onto the issue of car parking. That goes without saying. For many of us, it is a nuisance to land at the hospital and have to find change, a card or whatever. It can be relatively expensive but for people will live with it if it is a once-off charge. However, for people going through constant day-by-day or week-by-week treatment, it is not okay to put this extra cost on them. There is the added issue that some of these are private car parks. It is not beyond the ability of the Government to find a solution to this problem. Rather than us making political points in relation to this matter, it would be far better if it were taken off the agenda and delivered on.

We all know of people suffering from cancer. I have been dealing with friends of mine recently and some, unfortunately, have passed since. They got the best of care but there are difficulties. We need to look at the systems we operate. Sometimes the family arrange to bring the person to hospital for treatment and then all of a sudden it is cancelled. Communication is imperfect and some of that is because the database systems and systems between doctor, patient and administrator are not perfect. There are difficulties but the matter needs to be rectified as soon as possible because it is costing time, causing plain and, in some cases, probably having bad ripple effects that need to be taken into account.

There are a number of simple steps that just need to be take so we have better cancer care for our people.

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