Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I sympathise with Deputy Michael Collins and his family on the tragic death of his nephew.

I thank the Rural Independent Group for tabling this motion on the significant and ever-increasing gaps in healthcare provision in rural communities. Over two thirds of rural GPs are unable to take on new patients and there are waiting times of up to two weeks for non-emergency appointments.

In my limited time, I want to raise three issues, the first of which affects both rural and urban patients and relates to the shocking change in HSE policy on post-mastectomy products, including mastectomy bras, prostheses and swimwear, announced in recent days. So many people have been in contact with me about this.

They are shocked, angry and distressed about this mean-spirited, cruel cut to post-mastectomy services. It is important to say that mastectomy bras, prostheses and swimwear are not underwear or swimwear. They are medical devices necessary to help women's recovery from the perspective of lessening the risk of lymphoedema and for giving breast cancer survivors a little bit of confidence to face the world.

Back in 2017, the HSE attempted to cut back on post-mastectomy products, but a public outcry ensued and the decision was reversed. Deputy Harris was the Minister at the time and he ensured the HSE deferred the introduction of this mean-spirited cut to services, but it seems to have sneaked back in again in recent days. A 50% cut in funding is proposed. Women are entitled to two mastectomy bras, one or two prostheses, depending on need, and one or two swimming prostheses, again depending on need. For that to be cut in half is unacceptable. Many women, their partners and their families are really upset about this decision. Will the Minister of State immediately contact the Minister for Health to ensure this totally unacceptable cut to women's post-mastectomy services is immediately reversed and is finally and fully taken off the table?

The second issue I wish to raise is the loss of a GP in Swanlinbar in County Cavan. This GP service treats patients along the Cavan-Leitrim border. The local GP, Dr. Cristian, has been there since 2021, working four days per week in the health centre. He bought a house in the village. He and his wife are both doctors and they are part of the community. He is appreciated as a great doctor. However, now it seems that the Swanlinbar Health Centre will be serviced by the Ballyconnell Health Centre, which is an excellent service, but bursting at the seams and is 16 km away. I am told it is so busy that it takes two weeks to get a routine appointment and two to three days to get an emergency appointment. This is madness. As one person said to me, the decision-makers in Dublin are so far removed from life in rural Ireland that they do not understand the knock-on effects of this decision. I ask that it be reversed.

I raise the appalling situation, where, according to a response I received from the HSE less than a week ago, there is only one contractor providing care to medical card patients under the dental treatment services scheme in County Leitrim. This letter also confirmed that there has been significant reduction in the number of participating dental contractors in Sligo and Leitrim, with dentists already in the scheme not taking on any new patients. In effect, there is no dental service for medical card patients in Sligo and Leitrim.

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