Older patients waiting for procedures
Ó Caoláin criticises lengthy waits for older public patients and unequal access to treatment. The Taoiseach supports faster implementation of health reforms, more consultant-led services and new community nursing units.
There is no question about the excellent efforts of those who are providing the service. The question is whether the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health and Children are doing their jobs in meeting the needs of ordinary people. Does the Taoiseach not agree, on this United Nations international day for older persons, that it is an obscenity that many of our older citizens who are dependent on the public health system are forced to wait for months and, in some cases, years for procedures that will significantly improve the quality of their lives while those who can afford it can buy access to the same health system in a matter of days or weeks? Will the Taoiseach confirm that he is prepared to tackle the unjust and immoral two tier system of health care delivery that perpetuates this injustice and this unacceptable approach to health care?
Comment on this
The Deputy is now stating that the initiatives in the reform package which was presented by the Minister for Health and Children last June should be implemented as quickly as possible, and naturally I agree.
Comment on this
He is not doing anything about it in the programme of legislation.
Comment on this
It is based on a policy of having more consultant led services and moving away from the traditional system of provision through junior hospital doctors. There will be more consultants and they will not, as has happened over the years, be in the same position within both public and private hospitals. That is one of the main reform elements of the policy. With regard to older people, I agree that the new community nursing units proposed by several health boards should be completed as quickly as possible. Over the past few years an additional 550 beds have been provided as well as 1,250 day places for older people. We should continue to improve in that area and resources should continue to be devoted to it every year. The Minister of State, Deputy Callely, recently outlined his proposals in this regard.
Large amounts of money have been allocated to increased nursing home subventions, which also help older people in society, while approximately €100 million has been allocated to home help to support people in the community, including older people. These are important initiatives which the Government will continue to implement and, where we can, improve the service.