Joan Burton advises Leo Varadkar to focus on failing health service

Tánaiste Joan Burton has warned Health Minister Leo Varadkar he must address the “really large challenge” of the failing health service after being given a €665m supplementary budget to plug holes in services.

Speaking on the same day as Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil a leading hospital is “not fit for purpose”, the Labour leader said the fact Mr Varadkar now has “more resources than have been seen in the health service for a long time” means the matters must be addressed.

Under plans previously flagged by the Government, the cabinet yesterday signed off on an extra €665m fund for the health service this year to ensure it continues to function. The fund, known as a supplementary budget, was initially agreed during October’s budget negotiations but is 10% higher than first planned.

Mr Varadkar said yesterday the extra money will be spent on key areas including the provision of the free GP care for under sixes scheme, hospital overcrowding plans and €90m earmarked for the State Claims Agency to pay for payouts for cases taken by patients against the State.

However, while the Health Minister welcomed the extra resources, Ms Burton sounded a note of caution by warning the significant increase in funding comes at a price.

Asked at a media event yesterday whether the money is being spent adequately given the fact that high-profile problems continue to persist in the system, the Labour leader said:

“That really is a really large challenge that the Minister for Health has to face.

“He now has more resources than have been seen in the health services for a long time. I think it is right that some of the extra spending should go to health services, but we do want to see efficiencies and effectiveness in how its used.

“And that is the challenge. Its a big challenge for Minister Varadkar,” she said.

The comments were mirrored by opposition parties Fianna Fáil and Renua Ireland, with Fianna Fáil health spokesperson Billy Kelleher claiming the need for the extra money means Mr Varadkar’s tenure is now “worse than [his predecessor] Minister James Reilly”.

However, the Health Minister said all spending will be detailed at an Oireachtas health committee meeting next week, and claimed Mr Kelleher is “a very strange candidate for the job” if he is opposed to spending in the system itself.

However, despite the remark, Mr Varadkar’s critics were given further ammunition yesterday when Mr Kenny said University Hospital Galway is “not fit for purpose”.

Responding to opposition concern over the families with young children waiting hours on hospital trolleys, Mr Kenny told the latest Dáil leaders questions debate there continue to be problems in the system.

Taking TDs by surprise after being told by Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin the Galway facility is a “disgrace”, Mr Kenny said:

“The emergency department at University College Galway is not fit for purpose in this day and age. The staff in the hospital are working under extraordinary conditions. It is one of the most inadequate facilities in the country and needs to be replaced.”

After facing further criticism from Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams over the case of a six-week old baby who had to spent a night on a trolley at Cork University Hospital, Mr Kenny said health service managers are attempting to address the crisis.

He said the HSE is expected to send its budget plan, known as a service plan, to Mr Varadkar in the next seven days which he hoped will address some of the ongoing issues.