I was delighted to host a public meeting on healthcare in our community in the last number of weeks which was well attended by people from across Dublin west. Healthcare is a passion of mine and healthcare in our community is a key facet of public policy that needs attention, focus and real delivery.
Fianna Fáil believes in a strong public health system with quality services as close to the people as is possible. Healthcare for many is a distant hope where a hospital appointment or a procedure is a worrying waiting game. This is not a sustainable way to run a health service.

I was delighted to attend the official opening of St. Francis Hospice in recent weeks. The hospice has been developed at the initiative of brilliant people in our community who have shown phenomenal community activism. The work and endeavor of so many members of our community in fundraising, progressing and driving this initiative must be remembered

Stand-alone maternity hospitals, like we have in our capital are not the norm internationally.

And it is broadly agreed that for the best outcomes for mothers, maternity services should be co-located along with acute adult services.

Just last year the Master of the Rotunda pointed out that it is unacceptable that the hospital had to transfer 10 of its sickest patients by ambulance to high dependency units.

The waiting lists for outpatient procedures have spiralled out of control, with the numbers waiting for outpatient procedures for more than a year increasing eight fold in Connolly Hospital, the Mater and St James since last year, according to new figures from the HSE.

Of the acute hospitals Beaumont has seen the most alarming increase, with 2,758 patients now waiting for more than a year for their procedure. That’s up by 2,664 patients since this time last year and up by 232 between January and February of this year alone.

The Eye and Ear Hospital is under severe pressure with 3,199 patients who are now waiting for over a year for their procedure. That’s an increase of 2,945 since February last year when there were 254 patients waiting for over a year.

Many of the acute Dublin hospitals have also seen a doubling of inpatient waiting times.

Cllr Jack Chambers has said it shows the health system is out of control.

Funding has been recently approved by the HSE for a new primary care centre that received planning permission last year. The progression of this facility will provide a multifaceted delivery of healthcare in the community and it ill include a new Primary Care Centre, a Child & Adolescent Mental Health Team, an Early Intervention Team, and accommodation for a dental surgery and a GP surgery. 

I welcome the announcement from the Health Service Executive to provide funding for full time beds in St. Francis Hospice from 2014. The funding has been incorporated in the HSE's service plan for 2014 and I hope this commitment is honoured in full. St. Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown was built and developed to provide palliative care to patients in the final period of their lives. This multi-faceted service provides dignity, support and care to families and their loved ones. Funding from the HSE will enable the hospice to provide full time beds in addition to its current day care and community based home care. This announcement is a victory for community activism and the work and endeavour of so many members of our community in fundraising, progressing and driving this initiative must be remembered. 

Connolly Hospital is pivotal in the provision of care to the local community. It’s campus size and location provide a platform, not alone for the retention of all current specialties and services but would also provide the opportunity for further expansion to meet the health demands locally.

I welcome the announcement from the Health Service Executive to provide funding for full time beds in St. Francis Hospice from 2014. The funding has been incorporated in the HSE's service plan for 2014 and I hope this commitment is honoured in full. St. Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown was built and developed to provide palliative care to patients in the final period of their lives. This multi-faceted service provides dignity, support and care to families and their loved ones. Funding from the HSE will enable the hospice to provide full time beds in addition to its current day care and community based home care. This announcement is a victory for community activism and the work and endeavour of so many members of our community in fundraising, progressing and driving this initiative must be remembered.