Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As per the Acting Chairman's instructions, I will keep my contribution brief. I very much welcome the investment in the HSE winter plan and acknowledge the fantastic work being done by our healthcare teams in primary care and in hospitals. The investment in community healthcare networks is particularly welcome, as are the additional 4.76 million home support hours provided under the home first initiative.

I want to raise an issue that is local to me. Social services in Ballinasloe have had a HSE nurse allocated to them but day services are not fully open at this time. I would like to see the resources that were allocated to contact tracing and testing returned to social services so that they can avail of access to a HSE nurse.

In terms of innovation, it was great to see such things as e-referrals of prescriptions during the Covid crisis. It has taken many years to get across the barriers to that type of innovation. I welcome the focus in the winter plan on telemedicine. I would like to see much more of that type of innovation happening in order to reduce face-to-face contact.

Access to the winter flu vaccine is crucial but we are hearing that some people in vulnerable groups have not been able to avail of it. In my area, for example, I know of a young pregnant woman who has not yet been able to get it, which has made her very anxious. We are now hearing that people will have to wait until the end of October before there is availability.

Recruitment of healthcare personnel in regional areas can be challenging. I ask that consideration be given to offering incentives in hospitals in more regional locations to recruit staff.

Finally, I draw the Minister of State's attention to the fact that the red-eye Westdoc service is not currently available in Ballinasloe, Clontuskert, Laurencetown and south Roscommon to support local GPs.