Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. The reason I have brought this matter to the attention of the Minister and the Minister of State is because I am looking for a formal structure to be put in place for meetings with the HSE. I will give a rough guide of what has been happening to me in Carlow. In August 2016, I requested follow-up on Tír na nÓg respite services. I was told the HSE would come back to me, which it did not. On 29 March I sent an email. I wanted to familiarise myself with the HSE and find out how I could meet the Department. Again, I was to get a response. On 10 April 2017 I received a reply enclosing an information booklet for Oireachtas Members of the Thirty-second Dáil and the Twenty-fifth Seanad, which I had already received on 7 March. As this was not what I had requested, on 15 May I again requested a meeting and provided a list of items I wanted to discuss, but I never heard anything back. On 17 May I got back in touch with the HSE to request meetings. Today, I received a reply with the same booklet. It is constantly sending me the booklet. As I mentioned, this is not what I originally wanted.

My colleague on Carlow County Council, Councillor Arthur McDonald, is a representative on the HSE's regional health forum. On three occasions I have requested a meeting with officials but have not heard anything back. Three notices of motion were tabled but I never heard anything back. Several weeks ago, a meeting was held and Councillor McDonald again asked that I meet officials. Again, I heard nothing back. Holy Angels Day Care Centre has also been seeking a meeting but has heard nothing from the Department.

Several weeks ago, the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, told me the ambulance service base building was going ahead. We have had no correspondence but it is meant to have started. I want to follow up on this. I also want to follow up on the Tír na nÓg respite service. There are palliative care issues in Laois and Carlow but we know nothing. In December, a proposal on medical cards with regard to youth mental health was submitted to the HSE but nothing has been heard on this. I want to follow up on this. Several months ago, an 82-year-old woman came to my clinic. She had fallen and went to Kilkenny hospital from where she was sent to Waterford because she dislocated her shoulder and Kilkenny does not deal with this sort of injury so that is fair enough.She was there and then she was sent home. The hospital then told her that it could not actually look after her because, ten years ago, when she had private insurance with VHI, she had hurt the same shoulder. She was told then that she did not qualify and that she would have to go back to her private health insurance. She said she was a medical card holder. That lady of 82 years of age was sent home from Kilkenny hospital and Waterford hospital, and told that the matter would be addressed. She was left in pain. I contacted the health board and heard nothing.

I then had problem with the dental services. The HSE closed the dental service in Bagenalstown so it means that any school-goers - for example those in primary school in fourth and sixth class - either have to go to Kilkenny or Carlow. I was looking for an update on that, and I believe other HSE services have been cut as well.

The other matter I want to address is that I spoke to a lady a few weeks ago who was in a motorised wheelchair. Over the weekend, I could not find anybody to fix her wheelchair because I did not know what Department to go to.

There are so many issues there that I need to speak to the HSE about. I need to find the avenues to deal with issues. I know I am not going to get everything sorted but there is a lack of communication and no word back on anything. No matter how many times I request meetings, I am fobbed off. We as Senators, councillors or anyone in our area who represent people need to meet with the HSE on a regular basis. I bring this up today because I am fed up of being fobbed off. I am asking for a solution.

When I submitted this matter I got three calls from the health board which I had not received before but I was here in the House and could not take them.