Health system crisis - HSE talk not enough for sick children

WHEN Tánaiste Mary Harney arrives in Cork for today’s Cabinet meeting, she should proceed to the Mercy University Hospital and seek out Dr David Coghlan.

From him, she will learn the reality of life for children suffering from disabilities under the abysmal health system for which she holds ministerial responsibility.

Sadly, for some 12,000 children in the region, the senior consultant paediatrician has resigned because his job at the hospital had become untenable.

Due to the Health Service Executive’s failure to make resources available, he is moving to Tallaght Hospital. No doubt, officials will describe this as a career move.

However, there is no denying the State has totally failed to provide the necessary resources for a region which has the lowest number of consultant paediatricians in the country.

It is disingenuous of the HSE to claim that €700,000 is available pending a working party report.

As Dr Coghlan says, he is sick of attending meetings about meetings. The health system cannot be run by committee reports.

Children with disabilities, and their parents, who plan to picket today’s Cabinet meeting, are crying out for decisive action - not vague promises from the HSE or Ms Harney.