I wish to highlight a vicious attack on the most vulnerable section of the community, our children, the future lifeblood of the country and tomorrow's citizens. All general medical and surgical outpatients' clinics have been callously cancelled by the board of management of Temple Street Hospital for two weeks in July and two weeks in August. In addition there will be a 10 per cent reduction of hospital beds for a period in excess of one month, all in the name of financial cutbacks in the area of child medi-care. The Minister is responsible, as the buck stops with him.
I demand that the Minister for Health, a fellow general practitioner, should provide proper and adequate finance for the health care of our children on the north side of Dublin and stop this madness. It is my duty, as an elected representative, as a concerned parent and as a practising family doctor, to point out that, as a result of this uncaring and unchristian attitude by the Minister, there will be a delay in early diagnosis and treatment of serious diseases which, as the Minister knows, is often vital in the prevention and treatment of children's disorders. Because of pressures on beds there will be early discharge of patients from overcrowded wards in Temple Street. In many cases there will be early readmission of these patients for further treatment, as the community services, despite what the Minister's Department say, cannot and in many cases are not fully equipped to properly look after patients who were discharged early.
There will be an increase in absenteeism from work as parents will have to take time off to look after sick children who have not fully recovered, physically or mentally, from the ordeal of investigations and treatment. What price does the Minister put on the mental anguish of concerned parents?
The casualty department of Temple Street is the busiest in Europe, catering for approximately 60,000 consultations per year. It will come under further pressure because of these draconian measures. Sick children will be turned away and sent to other casualty departments on the south side of the city. I should point out that Temple Street caters not only for the northside but also for the sick children of north County Dublin, County Meath, County Louth, County Westmeath, County Cavan and sometimes County Monaghan. It has a catchment area of 300,000 to 400,000 children.
The casualty department in Temple Street Hospital has an eight-bedded observation ward where patients are observed for a deterioration in their condition, for example, in relation to head injuries, asthma and epileptic attacks and acute abdominal pains. In addition, from 12 midnight to 8 a.m. only one fully trained nurse and one student nurse are on duty in the casualty department.
These two overworked nurses must not alone look after the observation ward but also deal with routine casualty patients, which is an impossible and intolerable situation.
I do not apologise to anybody for highlighting serious deficiencies and shortcomings in the area of child medi-care. Under the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrat Coalition Government we have seen the evolution of a two-tier health system. Those who can afford VHI can avail of high-tech, ultra-modern treatment but others are reduced to the status of second and third class citizens. If you do not have money you simply wait for treatment.