FG, through FairCare, will deliver improved healthcare services for the Irish people that are accountable, equitable and deliver real results

Speaking in advance of the Fine Gael FairCare public meeting in Mullingar Park Hotel on Tuesday, 30th March, Senator Nicky McFadden said: ‘Over the past ten years our health service has become a complete shambles with excessively long out-patient waiting lists and short notice operation cancellations just the tip of the iceberg. The result of this appalling situation is that there is an average of 300 sick people on trolleys in hospitals across Ireland on any given day and things are only getting worse. Recently we witnessed the disaster in Tallaght Hospital whereby 58,000 X-rays were unread by a radiologist and thousands of GP referral letters were not even opened. Such are the examples of severely incompetent management by the Minister and the HSE.’

“In Longford/Westmeath, we are blessed to have a hospital, such as the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar, where the staff works tirelessly and under pressure to care for the sick of the region. I believe we have to provide our elderly throughout the country with a service such as St. Mary’s Care Centre that is respectful and treats people with dignity.

“People who suffer from mental illness deserve to be treated in a hospital that is fit for purpose and not condemned by the Mental Health Inspectorate as was recently the case with St. Loman’s in Mullingar. We are spending €15 billion on our health service. It’s high time the people of Longford/ Westmeath got their fair share.

“On taking office, Fine Gael, together with our Health Spokesperson, Dr. James Reilly TD, will implement our FairCare policy that will slash waiting lists and get the healthcare system back on track. Patients will no longer be seen as ‘costs’ or obstacles but as a source of ‘income’ to be regarded with respect. Our ‘money will follow the patient’ system of operation will ensure that hospitals are paid for the number of patients they treat instead of being allocated a set budget each year as is currently the case.

“We will put in place primary care centres, where groups of GPs and other health care professionals will treat the sick in purpose built premises with access to X-rays, ultrasounds and endoscopies. This will enable doctors to diagnose the patient in their communities therefore alleviating the pressure on A&Es. Lastly, FairCare will deliver universal health insurance, whereby every man, woman and child will be insured through the State at no extra cost than they are currently paying.

“I warmly invite the people of Longford/ Westmeath to come along to a public meeting with Fine Gael Party Leader Enda Kenny TD and Dr. James Reilly TD, to hear our radical proposals first-hand. The meeting will be held in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Tuesday 30 March at 8pm.”