Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the response the Minister of State has given and the indication that the service will commence in 2025. It is hard to see how that will transpire given that it is the middle of 2024 and nothing has been progressed. I also appreciate that he outlined that the procurement is progressing in line with national financial regulations but I am unsure as to what that means. I feel that I have entered a twilight zone given that he is responding to this issue for the second time. No definitive timeline was mentioned in the response. I understand that additional costs present a challenge but we must be able to respond, especially given the proposal for night dialysis. The issue is not that people are getting later slots; it is that they are having to do it at night, which poses a number of safety issues. Night dialysis is not a good plan and it must be stopped in its tracks. That is something on which one and all agree.

Another point is that little to no management personnel will be present on night shifts. I mentioned to the Minister on a number of occasions about the need for reform of management in UHL and he indicated a similar line of thought. It is important to mention that no management personnel will be present in the case of night dialysis, and that is a major safety issue.

The introduction of night dialysis is a half measure at best. Although it is claimed to be temporary, it is likely to become permanent. We do not have a definitive timeline. The Minister of State said the service will commence in 2025 but the fact that we are only discussing the proposal at this point does not provide much confidence. That will have serious ramifications for patient well-being. It forces frail elderly people to leave their home at approximately 10 o'clock at night to travel for up to two hours to the hospital and receive a four-hour treatment, returning home at approximately 6.30 in the morning. It is desperately unfair to people in this situation and it also prevents younger people from working.

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