Vol. 394 No. 8
29 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the serious crisis experienced by many hospitals over the Christmas period, which led to overcrowded wards, beds in corridors and allegations that patients in need of treatment were turned away, he will indicate the additional resources he intends to provide for hospital services to ensure the availability of prompt and effective medical care for all who need it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
30 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health, in view of the public outcry at the state of our health services, the measures he proposes to implement to allay public disquiet and alarm.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together.
In the period immediately preceding Christmas and during Christmas, Ireland, in common with much of Europe, was affected by a major influenza epidemic. This had two immediate effects on the health service. First, there was a very sharp increase in the number of patients presenting to general practitioners and at hospitals throughout the country. On examination many of these were found to require admission to hospital. The second effect of the epidemic was on hospital staff whose numbers were temporarily reduced through illness.
There was a 40 per cent increase in medical admissions to hospitals during December and January compared with the same period last year. Eight thousand more medical patients than would have been expected were dealt with in this period.
I have to say, contrary to the impression which many people have sought to convey, that the health services coped very well with a difficult situation. Health boards and hospitals were given all necessary flexibility to do whatever was necessary to cope with the problem. Beds were re-opened, extra beds were brought into commission, extra staff were taken on, and staff who were due to take leave over Christmas stayed at work.
I am satisfied that the health service responded rapidly and flexibly to the emergency. Inevitably, many of the additional patients could not be cared for in optimum conditions. The scale of the demand for hospital services resulted in some patients being looked after for some period of time in day wards, in additional beds put up in standard wards or in corridors. I fully appreciate that these arrangements were often unsatisfactory for both patients and staff but the great majority of those concerned appreciated the unusual circumstances which led to these measures being taken.
I have indicated on a number of occasions my concern at delays in elective admissions particularly for some specialties. For that reason the Government made an additional £15 million available in July of last year to provide a 24 hour accident and emergency service at each of the major Dublin hospitals and to reduce waiting lists. I am pleased with the progress which has been made to date but the full impact of the measures taken has not yet become apparent. An additional £120 million is being expended on public health services in 1990. The resources already made available for hospital services should be sufficient to ensure adequate and prompt care for all those who need it.
As I have said already, many reckless and completely unfounded claims were made about patients being refused admission to hospital or being denied necessary treatment. No effort was made to check the truth or otherwise of these stories before going to the media.
Rubbish.
Great distress and fear were spread among patients and their families by these claims. I have had each of these claims fully investigated and in no case has the claim made been supported by the facts.
The death rate went up by 60 per cent.
Would the Minister agree that it is his responsibility to ensure that at all times the hospital service is adequate to cater for the needs of the people? Would he further agree that his policy of reducing the number of beds in hospitals has not resulted in reducing costs but rather in increased costs due to the duration of stay? There is now a lack of confidence in the Minister by the administrative staff, the nurses, doctors and the public generally. Unlike in the general election campaign, the Taoiseach cannot now claim to be unaware that there is a crisis. Would the Minister now——
Let us have brevity, please.
——agree that because of his failure to recognise that——
I think the Deputy has made his point.
——young children cannot have operations for ear, nose and throat problems, people have to borrow money——
The Deputy has had a very good innings and he ought to desist now.
Would the Minister now consider resigning his position as Minister for Health in view of the fact that there is a crisis?
Deputy Sherlock is correct in that there has been an increased throughput in our hospitals in the last three years. There has been quite a dramatic increase in the number of patients who have been attended to in the hospitals because of the efficiency measures that were implemented as a result of this Government's programme since 1987.
Did the Minister ever read what he said to Barry Desmond when he was over here?
On the question of the pressure on the hospitals, again I accept the point made by Deputy Sherlock about difficulties in dealing with a problem such as that which arose in the months of December and January. There was an unprecedented increase in the demand for beds, something experienced not only by us but by people in Northern Ireland, Britain and across Europe. When there is a flu epidemic, just as when a major disaster occurs, the health service has to respond and I am pleased that our health service responded with flexibility to the particular needs of the time.
Answer the question.
I accept that it put pressure on the service and I accept that in some circumstances patients were treated in conditions that were not ideal, but unfortunately this is the nature of health care around the world.
On the question of ear, nose and throat operations, the Government expressed their concern about the delays, particularly for ear operations for children. I am glad to say that as a result of the expenditure of £15 million last year, the on-going effects of which will continue through 1990, the number of children who were on the Temple Street Hospital waiting list in the autumn of last year — 1,800 — was reduced to 900 by the end of the year. That is an indication that the Government's programme is working.
What about the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital?
Since it is increasingly clear that the Minister for Health is now the only person in this country who has not recognised the crisis as it has been outlined not alone by politicians but by consultants, junior hospital doctors, nurses, paramedics and every independent political commentator, would he accept that he has presided over a service that has been savaged over three years, that in the period of his Ministry funding for the general hospitals has been cut by 5.3 per cent in real terms, voluntary hospitals by 6.1 per cent in real terms, health board long-stay hospitals and homes by 5.7 per cent in real terms, and the ambulance and emergency service by 5 per cent in real terms? The crisis over the Christmas period that the Minister alluded to was entirely predictable, and was predicted by me in 1987. I endorse the request, what in real terms does he propose to do to solve the dilemma that not only the people of Ireland but everybody involved in the health services acknowledge now exists?
Brevity.
(Limerick East): Resign.
On the point raised by Deputy Yates as to what we propose to do, I have referred already to the £15 million and the on-going effects of that throughout this year.
That was spent last year.
I have already referred to the fact that £120 million more will be spent on the day-to-day running of our health services this year. We are at present looking at the administration in the health services and will be doing something about that.
Is the Minister satisfied with the position?
This brings me back to my reply to Deputy Dukes and Deputy Yates: when it comes to false propaganda Deputy Howlin is not helping. He published a document of false propaganda a week ago. I have one page of it here in which he lists 20 hospitals that he says were closed. Two of these hospitals were never closed and another 16 are still open under new management. He even included Jervis Street Hospital and the Richmond, which were closed because of their age and moved to the most modern hospital in Europe, a matter that his own party in Government left sitting for four years. Does he think Jervis Street and the Richmond Hospitals should still be there?
Why is the Minister running away from a debate?
Is the Minister happy with the service for which he is responsible?
That is the document published by Deputy Howlin — every page of it a falsehood.
Let us hear the Minister.
The Minister should resign.
The Minister is listening to nobody but himself.
That must be the end of Priority Questions for today. I have received Private Notice Questions——
On a point of order, in view of the time, I seek your permission to raise on the Adjournment the matter about which I sought a Private Notice Question, that is, the resignation of three members of the Legal Aid Board and the crisis in that service as a result of those resignations.
I will facilitate Deputies in respect of the Adjournment Debate.
I wish to express my disappointment and shock at the decision by your office, a Cheann Comhairle, to disallow a Private Notice Question in my name on the funding crisis in the legal aid services.
I am sorry Deputy Flanagan, I have given my decision. It is quite clear and logical if the Deputy looks into it.
With the greatest respect, we have been debating for 20 minutes today the spending by the Government of £500,000——
I must come to deal with the Private Notice Questions.
We have spent £1.3 million on a Government jet, and yet we cannot discuss this.
I have had submitted to me——
I am on my feet, Deputy Flanagan, resume your seat.
Can I ask you——
I have had submitted to me Private Notice Questions from a number of Deputies——
Before we move on to the matter of the Private Notice Questions——
If the Deputy persists I will have to deal with him. It is a serious matter to interrupt the Chair when he is on his feet dealing with the business of this House.
Give him a pair.
