Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

The Minister of State was not in the House when Senator Henry read a letter sent to her from a patient in County Wexford who needs radiotherapy treatment. The woman in question was told that she would have to wait 22 weeks to be seen at St. Luke's Hospital. I am from Waterford, the capital of the south east region which has a population of over 450,000. Seriously ill people in any region should not have to wait 22 weeks for radiotherapy, especially as national best practice guidelines recommend that such treatment should be given within ten weeks of an operation, as to do otherwise would diminish its effects. This Government is presiding over a health service that cannot meet national guidelines.

Before this year's election, all three Fianna Fáil candidates in Waterford gave an undertaking that Waterford Regional Hospital would have a radiotherapy unit within three years. If that is to happen, however, building work would have to start in the first quarter of 2003. I sincerely hope that this election promise will be met. The Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, is hiding behind the promised publication of a consultants' report. We were told over 12 months ago that the report was imminent, but we have yet to see it.

The Labour Party's motion refers to increases in medical charges which were not flagged prior to the election. The need to extend the BreastCheck programme, at a cost of €27 million over four years, is also mentioned in the motion and I hope it will become a Government priority. The report of an expert group in this area has been received and I hope it will be acted upon as the BreastCheck programme has been proven to save lives. People will not accept "No" as an answer in this instance. The motion also refers to the election promise to end hospital waiting lists within two years, which has been omitted from the programme for Government. The Government seems to be rich on promises, but slow to deliver. Eligibility limits for medical cards have not been increased for many years. I call on the Minister to rectify the matter in the forthcoming budget as people on low incomes, many of whom are hardship cases, are ineligible. Many parents deprive themselves to be able to afford to bring their children to a doctor for much needed care. I could mention many other inequities in our health service.