Sinn Féin TD for Kerry, Pa Daly, has called on the Minister for Health to take charge of the waiting list crisis and deliver measures to address the lack of capacity within our hospital system in Budget 2022.
Pa Daly TD’s comments come with the party’s Private Member’s Bill being brought before Dáil Éireann this week setting out measures to curb waiting lists.
Teachta Daly said that the hospital waiting list crisis can and must be fixed.
Spiralling Out of Control
“Waiting lists have spiralled out of control and we now have over 900,000 people healthcare waiting lists nationwide. There is hardly a family in the country which is not affected by this crisis.
“Waiting lists are up more than 15% since the beginning of the pandemic and have almost doubled since 2014.
“The health service is clearly not fit for purpose and Minister Donnelly must address this, ensuring that the appropriate level of investment is provided to boost capacity and tackle waiting lists.
Stories of Pain
“Behind record waiting times and huge lists are individual and highly personal stories of pain, worsening conditions, delayed diagnoses and treatment. All of this adds tremendous stress and worry to the human cost, which is very real and very urgent.
“The Government must act now and that is why Sinn Féin is tabling this motion.
“Government must address the management of waiting lists by introducing a centralised referral system and an integrated waiting lists management system which would provide for better coordination and transparency.
Feeling Abandoned by the HSE
“We desperately need a major increase in beds, staff, and diagnostic capacity to meet current needs and as well as tackle waiting lists for once and for all. Waiting lists are having a catastrophic effect on people who feel abandoned by the HSE with little hope of getting the care they should be entitled to.
“Waiting lists also create life-changing problems for people who receive a late diagnosis, or a condition that they cannot get treatment for because they are trapped on a waiting list.
A System Fit for Purpose
“The minister has the ability to take charge of this crisis and deliver a major capacity boost in Budget 2022 and I am calling on him to act now.
“Sinn Féin in government would deliver a healthcare system which is fit for purpose and which would deliver the timely, high quality care that patients need. Change is possible and deliverable if the political will is there,” said Teachta Daly
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