Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

At the outset, I want to send my condolences to the family of Aoife Johnston, a beautiful 16-year-old girl who lost her life. It could have been completely avoidable. That is the issue in terms of the healthcare we are delivering in 2024. How many more people have had their lives cut short because they have not received the timely healthcare they need and deserve? We do not know exactly how many have been affected, but many families know that their loved ones would have lived longer or be here today if they had received the right care on time.

Patient safety has to be the heart of what we do. The truth is that many people today, including members of my family, are free to access hospitals. How have we arrived at a situation whereby people, instead of trusting in a health system, are afraid to access the healthcare they need? We have to deliver safe health in hospitals in the mid-west, as well as in the rest of the country. This should never have happened.

The Minister spoke about reform. The Taoiseach was in the health portfolio and did not deliver reform, nor did any other Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil Minister over the years. Instead, we have had report after report from private consultants telling us what should be done instead of getting down on the floor and talking to the staff who are trying to deliver services on a daily basis.

While I am talking about health, I have to talk to the Minister about the constituent I wrote to him and the Taoiseach about. A young man has scoliosis and has been left to wait. His family are now distressed that he has received a diagnosis that he is now not fit for surgical intervention. I received a response from the Taoiseach, who was Minister for Health, who said, "I wish – and names the child – and his family all the best".

He has been failed by the health system despite being promised - promised - in 2017 that those with scoliosis would be treated. I had to look at that child when he was wheeled into my office a couple of weeks ago, which prompted me to write to the Government. One member of the Government is passing to another. The Taoiseach is passing to the Minister for Health who is passing to the HSE and it is no one's fault that we have ended up in a situation where such people's lives are being cut short. And the Taoiseach wishes them all the best. I will leave it at that.

See this speech in context