Lack of physios ‘is unacceptable’

WOMEN in need of follow-up physiotherapy after undergoing breast cancer surgery in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital are being forced to go to Cork, it has been claimed.

Labour party health spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan said women in need of lymphatic drainage are no longer able to receive this treatment in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.

“Due to the shortage of physiotherapists in the hospital, these women are forced to travel to Cork to receive treatment. This situation is totally unacceptable when these women have already gone through serious surgery and trauma.”

People, she said, are suffering needlessly due to strict cutbacks. “This week alone, I have met a number of people who have explained to me the difficulties they are experiencing in trying to access and receive services in areas such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and chiropody. These are critical essential services that really do affect the quality of people’s lives. People are being told that due to funding shortages that they will simply have to wait longer before they can avail of specific services.”

Ms O’Sullivan said it was quite extraordinary that fully qualified physiotherapists and occupational therapists are having to emigrate in search of employment while hospitals like the Mid-West Regional and community care teams are having to cutback on essential services.

She said funding announced in the budget for the provision of services for people with autism and intellectual disabilities and administered by Dochas and the Daughters of Charity in Limerick has still not been received despite ministerial promises.