Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and say hello to my kids in the Public Gallery.

I want to talk about Beaumont hospital. It is a core provider of healthcare for the half a million people in its catchment area across north Dublin, which includes my constituency areas of Finglas, Ballymun, Whitehall, Santry and many others. Beaumont hospital is a key public service, a key provider of healthcare and provides many people with high-quality care. Unfortunately, the hospital, as with much of our healthcare service, is under severe pressure. The issues in Beaumont hospital have been raised in this Chamber by my colleague and constituency predecessor, Róisín Shortall, and others. Unfortunately, much remains to be done to support the hospital to be able to deliver the quality service that the public in my constituency and further afield needs.

Almost 5,000 staff are employed in Beaumont hospital. On this International Workers' Day, I thank the staff at the hospital for all the work they do in very difficult and challenging circumstances, particularly the nurses who provide amazing care to patients, but also the porters, cleaners and all the staff who keep a hospital going, and the doctors and administration staff who do incredible work against the odds.

Unfortunately, in 2024 HIQA undertook an inspection of Beaumont hospital and found that on the day of the inspection 28 patients were accommodated on trolleys and in armchairs. HIQA noted at the time that the arrangements were not fully effective at the time of inspection to manage the mismatch between service demand and hospital capacity. I want to highlight this today and ask the Minister to respond.

I also want to highlight the issue regarding waiting lists at the hospital. I will raise one example, the case of a constituent, Margaret, who contacted me recently. Margaret saw a consultant in Beaumont hospital after her GP found two lumps in her breast. This consultant then referred her to the BreastCheck unit in Beaumont hospital. She waited three months for an appointment, despite being advised that her case was urgent and the turnaround should only be two weeks. She did get an appointment but this was simply to check again the presence of the lumps. She was advised by letter that a follow-up appointment would be required if a biopsy was necessary. This was all against the backdrop of her waiting anxiously beyond the advised two-week timeline for urgent cases like this.

Is it acceptable that this is what patients are facing? I understand that Beaumont hospital is to receive capital investment but there needs to be a sense of urgency for everyone like Margaret who face unacceptable waiting times. These delays have life-altering consequences.

By the HSE's figures there are currently 3,412 patients on the wait list for inpatient procedures and a staggering 40,493 people on a waiting list for outpatient procedures at Beaumont hospital. I would appreciate the Minister of State's response to this.

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