Colette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The nation was shocked by the harrowing stories exposed on "Prime Time Investigates" last night. It is a shocking shame that it takes a television programme for notice to be taken rather than our calling out these issues long in advance of such programmes. Patricia Connolly told her story of waiting over a year for a gynaecology appointment in Cork. She is condemned to a life of pain on painkillers. She is one of at least 4,265 women, if not more, in Cork who are waiting for a gynaecology assessment. This is nothing new. I raised this matter with the Minister in September but nothing has happened since. There are just more women living in pain on the list.

We need to know what needs to be done to solve the issues in Cork. We just need the Minister to ensure that the doctors' four-point plan is put in place. The four recommendations the doctors made to the Minister some weeks ago are to employ additional gynaecology theatre staff to increase the theatre capacity from 30% to 100%; to develop a gynaecology day unit; to build and staff the gynaecology one-stop shop, which was part of the cancer plan in 2014; and to employ a minimum of four additional consultant gynaecologists.

To end the misery for women in Cork and the region, we need concrete action beyond the Minister's genuine emotion and warm words. I want to know what specific actions he will take. What is the timeframe for these actions? On 25 January, the last time the Minister addressed this matter in the Seanad, he told us he had requested a report from the HSE on both the inpatient and outpatient waiting lists. Is this report ready? Will it address the practical issues in CUMH, which issues are the outliers? Can we see the report? The Minister said on the occasion in question that the situation is not acceptable. What does this actually mean for women waiting to get the treatment they need? What action will the Minister take to provide a sustainable solution to build real capacity and not fund something that just relies on the National Treatment Purchase Fund? In January, the Minister promised to meet the consultants and management in February to agree the actions and promises. Has a date been set? The consultants have sent their proposals to the Minister. It would take him just under 30 minutes to consider their practical proposals. I would like the Leader to bring the Minister for Health here to answer these questions for all the people on the list.