Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the motion tabled by the Independent Group. It serves to highlight again and shine a spotlight on our health service. I acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the doctors, nurses and all of those on the front lines and everyone who works in the services. Recently my mother was released from the Mater hospital after being there for five weeks. I can attest to the absolutely outstanding care she received there. The problem is trying to get into a hospital. Our fears start when going into an emergency department and trying to get into a hospital. Once people are in hospital, the care is absolutely outstanding.

As Deputy Cullinane said earlier, cancellations for day services in hospitals is at an all-time high. In the first quarter of 2023, almost 200 patients had their appointments cancelled at Connolly Hospital in my constituency of Dublin West. This, combined with startling figures from hospitals throughout the State, show another failure in healthcare services.

I have read the speech of the Minister of State and one part in particular interested to me. This was the focus on Sláintecare reform and recognising the need to enable older people to age well at home. It is striking because it is something that upsets me when somebody wants to live at home, stay at home or get home from hospital in particular. At present in Dublin West, we have a two-year waiting list for occupational therapy. Someone going to the local authority looking for a grant needs an occupational therapy report from the hospital to show exactly what needs to happen. The wait for an adaption grant from the local authority to be able to bring somebody home to live downstairs is four years.

We can do all the work we want in hospital and we can get the occupational therapy report but if the work is not done and will take four years, and if there is no funding in the local authorities to do the work, the person will be stuck in hospital. We all know there are people stuck in hospital for months and months on end using acute beds when they do not need to be there because they cannot get occupational therapy or they cannot get the work done to enable them to return home. I acknowledge it was mentioned in the Minister of State's speech. It is one of those very important things that we need to tackle in our health service and hospitals.

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