Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are currently seeing a significant decline in rural health services across Ireland. A recent survey by the Irish Independentshowed that more than 50% of GPs nationwide cannot accept new patients. The situation is worse in rural areas where two thirds of GPs are not taking on any new patients. Some patients have to wait up to three weeks for an appointment. In spite of our increased national health budget, we are witnessing a slow deterioration of health services, especially in rural communities. Last week, both hospitals in County Tipperary were overcrowded to an awful extent. University Hospital Limerick had more than 1,500 patients one day while there were 18 in Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel. We need some action to be taken here. This has been going on in front of our eyes for ten years but it is very serious at the moment. There are ads on the radio telling people not to go to accident and emergency, but to go to the doctors as first call and to out-of-hours services. A lady last week told me she waited two and a half weeks. She was number 20 on the list when she rang on the waiting system and was told she had an appointment in two and a half weeks. That is insane. If you are sick, you need a doctor. We can get a vet within half an hour day or night, and we cannot get doctors.

See this speech in context