Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Bill. In making its pre-budget submission, the Regional Group met the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and put forward several suggestions. On foot of doing so, we received a commitment. Therefore, I very much welcome this Bill. Its purpose is to exempt rent-a-room income of up to €14,000 per annum. It is to be disregarded in medical card and GP visit card income assessments. This is a very positive step forward. I am glad that the Government has taken our suggestion on board. The objective of the Bill is to provide a disregard of up to €14,000 for persons who have income eligible for rent-a-room relief such that the income will not be assessed within the medical card assessment process. As we are all aware, rent-a-room income is assessed within the medical card assessment process. In many cases, this has meant people were not able to qualify for a medical card. This legislation, when enacted, will mean rent-a-room income will no longer be considered in assessments for the medical card and, importantly, the GP visit card. We are happy to support the Bill.

Seeing as the Minister is here, I wish to avail of the opportunity to ask him about University Hospital Limerick. I am aware that he has taken a personal interest in it and that there has been a substantial investment in it, but the number of complaints I receive from consultants, medical staff, nursing staff and Ambulance Service personnel associated with the hospital indicates everyone is extremely concerned. I believe the hospital has crossed the line.

Overcrowding has escalated from unsafe to hazardous. It poses a serious threat to patient health and safety. Even basic infection control is posing challenges and I hear from many distraught families every day as a representative for Tipperary. Family members tell me they are tending to the basic needs of loved ones on corridors and in cubicles. Staff tell me they cannot cope with what they consider to be unending demands and high stress levels. They are being tasked with the impossible. It is that serious. These are professional people. They are trained and qualified, but they find the task they have to be practically impossible. They are simply not able to keep up with demands. They are under enormous stress and strain. It has affected the health of many of them. They do not like to see what they are seeing around them because, as I said, they are professionals.

The intensifying pressure on UHL which caters for a rapidly growing population is also impacting on the other hospitals in the region. We have a situation where a huge volume of patients requiring medical care at UHL is having a knock-on effect on patient treatment at Nenagh Hospital. Day procedures in Nenagh Hospital are cancelled almost daily to provide beds to cater for the overflow of medical patients from UHL. Hundreds of procedures have been cancelled in recent weeks. Since January there have been almost 400 cancellations. These are people who a consultant has said need intervention. They require day surgery. These people are concerned that further delays will put them in a position where they will require acute intervention. Their conditions are manageable or preventable at the moment, but it is important that the required intervention or surgical procedure happens.

Anxiety and anger are palpable across Tipperary. I am in touch with what people on the ground are telling me. The number of calls I receive about Limerick hospital has to be seen to be believed. We all make the point that there have been massive investments in UHL but people tell me they are frustrated at hearing about references to previous investments in UHL because they do not see a significant difference in the activity of the hospital. Management of the hospital has changed and I hope new structures and procedures will help to get a better flow of patients through the hospital, but there is not much point in moving patients from one hospital, for example sending them to Nenagh, and notifying people at short notice that their day care intervention has been cancelled while not giving any date for when it will happen. I know the Minister is concerned about Limerick, everyone is. There is a massive problem with capacity which goes back to a lack of investment in 2008, 2010 and 2011 when investment was withdrawn or put on hold. We need to get a grip on it. I ask the Minister to reassure the people of the mid-west area that this is getting urgent attention from him and Department and HSE officials.

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