Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join with other colleagues in thanking the Cathaoirleach for his help and assistance and all the staff here in the House. We also should thank the backroom staff in our own offices for their dedication, commitment and support over the past 12 months.

I raise with the Leader an issue that arose in a recent survey carried out on the provision of palliative care in two hospitals, the Mater and St. James's, and in which UCD and TCD were involved. One issue it identified was that of those who are terminally ill being obliged to go through accident and emergency in order to get admission to hospital and that a new system should be put in place, especially for terminally ill patients. They are now looking for a national survey to be done on this issue. When anyone is going through palliative care, it is an extremely difficult time for families. It is draining in the sense that they are seeking supports at what is a difficult time for them and I do not believe that going through accident and emergency is the appropriate way. In the next term, we should have the Minister in to discuss this issue about how we can improve the health service in that particular difficult area. It is something that we need to do. It is an issue we cannot ignore and we also should do a national survey.

Finally, I join with my colleague in raising the concerns raised in the Health Insurance Authority report about the additional cost for older persons. We were to have an equal playing field for everyone regardless of age. It is a debate we also should have in the new year to ensure increased costs are not placed on the elderly for health insurance.