Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, a terrible fire broke out at Wexford General Hospital, which has led to the evacuation of more than 200 patients. Our thoughts this morning are with the people of Wexford. I commend everybody involved in the emergency response. In particular, I commend the Wexford fire brigade, all of our front-line healthcare workers, those in the ambulance service in the hospital and nearby hospitals and all of those who responded to the tragedy yesterday. The priority now must be to support patients, their families and the staff in our healthcare service. Their safety must come first. I offer our full support to the crisis management team and to our front-line heroes in Wexford, Waterford and Kilkenny and right across the State who have been asked, once again, to step up and respond to a crisis. I have no doubt they will continue to keep the health service running under immense pressure, just as they have always done, whether during the Covid pandemic, the cyberattack or what is now the constant year-long winter overcrowding crisis.

Tá ár smaointe ar maidin le muintir Loch Garman. Tugaim ár dtacaíocht iomlán dár laochra ar an líne thosaigh sa réigiún atá ag déileáil leis an ngéarchéim. Níl aon amhras orm ach go leanfaidh siad ar aghaidh ag coinneáil an tseirbhís sláinte ag dul, seirbhís atá faoi bhrú ollmhór, mar a rinne siad i gcónaí, fiú tríd an phaindéim Covid, tríd an chibirionsaí agus tríd an phlódú geimhridh.

It is essential that, while the healthcare service responds to the crisis, the Government responds quickly to support the health service and to put in place additional capacity and alternative care plans for these patients. As we know, it may be some time before full service resumes at Wexford. Appointments and procedures have necessarily been cancelled until it is safe for them to proceed. The disruption will undoubtedly cause much distress and anxiety to people in Wexford and the surrounding region. There are two important steps that must now be taken. First, the families must be kept fully informed. There needs to be really strong lines of communication with them throughout this crisis. This is particularly important for those who have been transferred a considerable distance, including as far as Drogheda, which will be difficult for their families, their loved ones and themselves. These families need to be engaged with, involved and supported right throughout this process.

Importantly, as the Tánaiste will know, our hospitals are already stretched thin and full to the brink. Overcrowding is systemic and widespread right across the State. In the south east, occupancy rates are as high as 95%. This will undoubtedly put significant additional strain on a healthcare service that is already at breaking point in the region. Not only must we restore Wexford hospital to full operational capacity as soon as is practically possible, but we must inject much-needed additional capacity into that region to manage the fallout. The Government needs to look at all options available in the short term. It needs to look at community capacity, private hospitals and nursing homes. The full healthcare capacity of the region must be marshalled and mobilised to support the State's response. As the Tánaiste will know, there are proposals for an additional 90 beds at Wexford and expansions for other hospitals in the region. These proposals now need to be fast-tracked and delivered at pace.

Can the Tánaiste confirm that there will be open, considerable and ongoing communication with the affected families? Can he confirm that his Government will go above and beyond to support Wexford and the region, to mobilise healthcare resources and to rapidly inject additional capacity into the region? Will he ensure that the crisis management team and the HSE have the full support and authority of the Government in doing everything they must as quickly as they can? Will the Tánaiste ensure that sufficient time is allocated as early as possible next week to ensure we have a proper, rounded and full debate on the response needed as a result of this incident?

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