Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank those colleagues who have signed the motion on the prioritisation of the filling of the vacancy for the pancreas transplant surgeon in Beaumont Hospital and other matters relating to pancreas and kidney transplants. We have issued a revised version of that motion and I encourage all Members interested in this matter to put their names to it in order that a clear message from the Seanad can go out that this is important and that we believe that people who are waiting for pancreas transplants are important. By way of further information for Members, 15 pancreas donations went to waste this year thus far because we did not have a surgeon in place and the vacancy has not been filled. I have received this information from the retired professor and surgeon, David Hickey. Those 15 pancreas donations could have been used in life-changing and life-saving operations but they were not used because we do not have the facilities or the surgeon to carry out that life-saving surgery. I do not think anyone thinks this is acceptable. If people are interested in this matter I ask them to put their names to the motion by 5 p.m. today. I intend to move the motion tomorrow, I hope with the full agreement of the House.

On other health issues, I refer to the figures for the record number of people waiting on trolleys. The numbers of people on outpatient waiting lists increased by over 200% and there has been a 400% increase in St. Vincent's hospital in Dublin. It is gone past a crisis. The Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, will be in the House next week but there are very many issues that are not being addressed. I refer to the frustration of people who cannot get appointments. People are on trolleys and outpatient appointments are being cancelled. It has gone from bad to worse and worse again. We need to have a specific debate before the summer recess to give the Minister an opportunity to outline his plans for addressing this crisis. All we get from the Minister is tea and sympathy. He says it is terrible and I agree with him but what is he doing about it? That is the problem. I do not see anything happening.

I have further referenced the point with regard to the Fampyra drug, an issue I have raised in the House time and again for more than a year. Three thousand multiple sclerosis patients who would benefit from this mobility drug cannot get the drug. It is as simple as that. They cannot get it because of inaction by the Department and by the Minister.I have raised the matter time and again and the Leader has used his good offices to raise the point with the Minister, but nothing is happening. I raised it in February 2014. People I know of in my area and all over the country can no longer work. They no longer have mobility, are dependent on the State and cannot access a life-changing drug. This is an issue for 3,000 MS patients and it is beyond disgraceful at this stage. There is no logical reason for it. The drugs policy unit can state what it wants, that it is assessing this or that application, but the reality is that people cannot access the drug that was helping them. This is not right and the Minister must address the issue. Therefore, I am again today proposing an amendment on the Order of Business that the Minister come to the House to address specifically the issue to allow 3,000 people to access and benefit from the MS drug, Fampyra.