We need a Health Service that is fair to both patients and workers

TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that the health service is at crisis point and is failing the tens of thousands of people who are stuck on waiting lists. Teachta Crowe said that the almost 39,000 on a waiting list in Tallaght University Hospital deserve “a fresh start with a system which is fair for workers, equitable for patients, efficient, and modern”.

Speaking after Sinn Féin launched a fully costed €914m package directed at tackling the waiting list crisis in this state, Teachta Crowe said: “There are more patients waiting for a hospital appointment than ever before and public patients are waiting longer than ever to receive care. “There were almost 39,000 people on a waiting list in Tallaght University Hospital alone in the middle of May this year. There are also 5,500 children on the Children’s Health Ireland waiting lists, which include children from all over Dublin South West.

“Since 2016, the number of children in this state waiting for an orthopaedic appointment, such as children with scoliosis or spina bifida, has risen from 27 to almost 1,200. We have a health service that is leaving children crippled with chronic pain for years on end. “The health service is at crisis point and is failing the tens of thousands of people who are stuck on waiting lists. “That is why Sinn Féin have launched a fully costed €914m package, including one-off capital investment of €568m, to turn the tide in favour of patients and healthcare workers.

“This includes 600 more beds through rapid build modular units above the Government’s current plans, more than 4,000 additional hospital staff, and a total of 430 critical care beds by 2025 up from 255 at the outset of the pandemic. “This also means €150m for theatre capacity expansion and equipment to deliver more treatment in public hospitals. A major amount of inpatient treatment is outsourced to the private sector, which not only costs more but makes the public sector a less appealing place to work for many highly trained specialist doctors.

“The latest cyberattack on the HSE has shown up the outdated IT systems which the health service run on, so we are also proposing a fund of €100m to upgrade the HSE’s IT infrastructure for better patient and waiting list management. This would also include investment in IT equipment and treatment systems to deliver modern care in modern hospitals. “Covid-19 has dealt a serious blow to an already crippled health service, but we must be clear that it was already struggling to meet demand before the virus reached these shores. “We need fresh start with a system which is fair for workers, equitable for patients, efficient, and modern.”