Health services crisis - Yet another indictment

Nearly every other day brings another damning report about the crisis eating at the heart of our health services.

So pressing are the issues, so divisive are the possible responses, that the cabinet cannot agree on proposals about universal health care cover.

Last week’s report dealt with lethal maternity failures. Today’s indictment deals with the delays, several years in some instances, faced by those who need neurological services. A Neurological Alliance of Ireland report not only details waiting times far outside the norms acceptable in a civilised country but, and this is nearly worse, the failure to confront the issues threatening the well-being of so many people.

Though we routinely blame a shortage of resources for situations like this it is hard at this stage not to think something more fundamental and deeply unattractive is at the root of the stasis gripping our health services.