Time to Fund a Real Health Service

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Tuesday February 24, 2009 12:21 by éirígí PRO press at eirigi dot org

éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson has said the building of a publicly-owned health service on the principles of equality and world-class care is the only alternative to the cut-backs being muted by the Health Service Executive [HSE] in the Twenty-Six Counties.

As the HSE met to discuss a reported €1.1 billion [£1 billion] loss in funding for the year ahead, Leeson said: “Like many other state services in the Twenty-Six Counties, the health system is not doing the job people expect it to perform.

“Despite the best efforts of poorly paid health workers, a plethora of problems are creating a crisis. Essential services are facing closure, others are simply not provided at all, while those without the ability to pay for essential care face outrageous waiting lists.

“The budgets of five Dublin hospitals have now been cut by €30 million.

“On Saturday, over 4,000 people marched through the town of Nenagh to protest against HSE plans to cut accident and emergency services in both Nenagh and Ennis.

“Across the west of the country, the provision of cancer screening is dangerously inadequate, forcing many people to undertake long journeys for the sake of their health.

“In November, Mary Harney withdrew plans for the introduction of a HPV vaccination program for young females at risk of cervical cancer, citing budget restraints.

“Meanwhile, nurses across the state remain underpaid and the Irish Medical Organisation is balloting junior doctors on industrial action in response to HSE plans to cut their allowances and grants.

“These are a just a few examples of how the health system is being criminally mismanaged by the Twenty-Six County establishment, who have no regard for the people that rely on it.”

Brian continued: “It is a disgrace that the wealth created during the years of economic boom has not been channeled into projects as pressing as creating a sustainable, universal health service that provides quality care to all, regardless of where you live or what your occupation is.

“Instead, the HSE continues to subsidise private health care for the rich, private hospitals on public land and over-paid consultants, who spend much of their time moonlighting as private doctors.

“Fianna Fáil and their coalition partners are responsible for this situation; it is they who refused to utilise the wealth of the nation in the interests of the sick and the vulnerable.

“The only alternative to health cuts and the closure of services, which are based on the ideological premise that the well-being of certain classes of people is expendable, is the building of a health service that is truly free and equal, paid for by direct taxation. Tinkering with an already sick system will only make matters worse.”
ENDS.