Phil Prendergast (Labour)

The media is full of reports on failures in the health service. The latest news is that a tragedy like that in the case of the late Susie Long could happen again. More than 1,000 people have been on the colonoscopy waiting list for more than six months. More than 250 people have been waiting for more than a year. This is happening even though we were promised that it would not happen again in our health service. The National Treatment Purchase Fund said that services of this type would be provided within three months. Such a contradiction is appalling. Those who have allowed this to arise expect the public to trust them. The savings involved amount to approximately 8% and, therefore, it is difficult to have confidence. Where savings are required, why should anyone believe the correct economies are being identified and how can we be sure the planned economies will be achieved, which is a major worry for anyone who is sick?

People with acquired brain injury are the latest to be targeted because the home liaison nurse's mileage allowance will be discontinued. Approximately 10,000 people will be both worried and disadvantaged by this move and I feel especially for those with serious emotional or behavioural difficulties as a result of their injuries. They will have to find their own way to treatment centres rather than the staff visiting them and the cost of transporting those who have suffered a stroke or who, because of an accident, have serious physical impairments to a centre will increase. While there will be a small saving, I question its benefit.

We should worry about the direction of the health service. I am concerned about nursing home standards as we await the implementation of proper standards. While I broadly welcome the thrust of the Health Information and Quality Authority document, additional inspectors will be needed but when will they be hired? The House should have a proper debate about this.

The newspapers reported today on the scheme the Health Service Executive proposes to cut costs, which includes reducing overtime by 50%, reducing on-call cover and closing wards at the weekend. I call on the executive to make a commitment to health professionals to support them in meeting their statutory obligation with regard to safe practice under the respective codes of professional conduct and it also needs to spell out how it intends to replace the 13,000 nursing and midwifery posts lost in the past 12 months while ensuring quality of care.

I cannot leave this subject without referring to the attack on the dignity of patients undergoing chemotherapy because the latest cutback in this regard involves the withdrawal of funding to patients towards the cost of a hair piece when undergoing treatment. That will seriously affect the psychological outlook of those experiencing the trauma and uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis. The use of a hair piece can have a significant impact by boosting the self-esteem of patients and helping to keep them going during their treatment. Hair pieces cost between €600 and €1,200 and approximately 100 people per year require this aid. The time has come for us to refocus on the effects of cutbacks. It is an absolute tragedy to sit in front of people who are so distraught because their self-esteem has been damaged by the withdrawal of the small amount that goes towards them maintaining their dignity while facing a difficult diagnosis.