Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The number of people on waiting lists is unacceptable. These are human beings, fellow citizens of ours, and they deserve better from our health system. It is time for holistic change regarding the use of theatre spaces. Senator Kelleher referred to Cork University Maternity Hospital and I very much welcome the appointment of Professor John Higgins to his new role. I support him, wish him well and hope to see a change in the use of theatres. We also need to see changes in the use of beds and we need to see more beds open if possible. Equally, consultants must look at their work practices, how they operate and do business too. As Senator Coffey rightly pointed out, we are allocating money but it is not just about the resources. How do we allocate that money and where is it spent? We have the second highest level of spending on health in the OECD. That is something we need to look at and change. The role of the HSE must be altered.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, allocation for this year will allow it to utilise capacity in the private acute hospital sector to provide treatment for those waiting longest. The HSE has been asked to submit an action plan to improve waiting lists in the public acute hospitals for inpatient, day case and outpatient services. The HSE and the NTPF must work strategically and collaboratively on this issue. The Minister has taken steps and while the action to date has been far too little, it is important that we work to end the blight of long waiting times for those who need to be seen. To go back to my fundamental point, they are people who deserve better. They are not numbers or statistics; they are people.

Senator Ardagh raised the issue of female genital mutilation in the context of the Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2012. I share her views and agree that we must work collaboratively to end this awful scourge. I would be happy to work with her on that and I thank her for highlighting the issue.

Senator Freeman raised the issue of child mental health and specifically mental health waiting lists. I do not see people being treated as second class citizens by anyone involved in the health system but mental health is an issue that we must continue to push to the fore. I would be happy to invite the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Helen McEntee, who was here last week, to the House to discuss the issue. She has secured more posts and increased funding for the mental health area.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue of an industrial dispute in County Mayo. That is a matter for the mechanisms of the State, specifically the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC. The Senator could raise the matter as a Topical Issue but it is important that the mechanisms of the State are used to reach a resolution.

Senator Dolan referred to an article in the Sunday Independentbut I would not believe everything I read in that newspaper because it does not always get everything right.