Welcoming the decision to regionalise the HSE, Labour's Cllr Keith Martin says the Government can't be trusted in the provision of health services in the west.
Cllr Martin says "Regionalisation is a very welcome development when you consider how out of touch with the needs of the west the Minister and her Department are. When Minister Harney visited Castlebar recently she had the wrong figures for the number of cancer procedures in Castlebar hospital and more recently she has the wrong information on the number of beds supposed to be available in Galway's Centre of Excellence. If the Minister and her Department have such a loose grip on the facts how can they be trusted to look after us here in the west?
"Don't forget, while we have Breastcheck in operation for several months, Breastcheck has been available for seven years in Dublin. That says it all as far as I am concerned. The Government cannot be trusted to provide health services in the west of Ireland. We simply are not a priority out here."
Under the new proposals, authority for running hospital and community services will be devolved to new regional management structures. In 2004, the Government abolished the 11 health boards and replaced them with a centralised Health Service Executive.
Cllr Keith Martin says the return of power to regional areas is a welcome step towards correcting some spending and priority problems associated with a centralised system.
"Under the new plans, regional directors would run hospital and community services in their area and determine how funding provided by the HSE at national level should be allocated.
"But the next necessary step is to replace HSE forums with decision making bodies made up of elected representatives working with the local HSE management. We must end the talking shops and put power back in the hands of the people."
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1 comment:
Mental Health issues are very serious in Ireland. The incidence of depression and suicide are a source of serious concern. Politicians should give special priority to these concerns or the future of Ireland will be built on shakey foundations.
The Government's Policy for Mental Health, 'The Vision for Change' is a brilliant policy, but it must needs be implemented on ground level. If not, it remains simply a vision. It must be mad simple, practical and livable. Less talkshops, more action!
If you are a service user or carer in the Westport area and want to voice your opinion, please contact me at my e-mail address. celt7gjd@yahoo.co.uk
I work as a volunteer for the Irish Advocacy Network and am the co-ordinator for the Consumer Panel. We lobby to the HSE to improve mental health standards.
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