Health service drifting from crisis to crisis

IT IS a national scandal that at a time of unprecedented economic prosperity, there is a sickness at the heart of our public health service.

Whether reform can be brought about by a universal health insurance system is questionable. What is needed is less bureaucracy and, in the area of health insurance, more competition.

Capital and current resources must also provide, on a planned basis, the essential nursing home and step-down care required to ensure our elderly are properly looked after and acute hospital beds are available to those who require them.

No more incidences of patients lying for days on trolleys in our major hospitals and of hospitals short of beds retaining ambulance trolleys; no more surgery date postponements.

Throughout the health service dedicated doctors and nurses are working under intolerable pressures.

Despite everything they do, the public health service, as managed by the Government, is drifting rudderless from one crisis to another with no central policy vision of its ultimate destination.

A whole range of community care services should be provided, particularly for the elderly. Home help services are inadequate. Services which are essential for civilised living have been neglected over the years.

The financial support necessary to ensure that people have access to proper healthcare must be provided. Nothing less is acceptable.

Cllr Noel Collins

‘St Jude’s’

Midleton

Co Cork