Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Health David Cullinane told the Dáil on Tuesday that his party in government would prioritise the expansion of services at the Minor Injury Unit at Monaghan Hospital. Deputy Cullinane was speaking during a debate in which Cavan/Monaghan Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy made a strong appeal for the opening hours at Monaghan Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit to be expanded and for fees associated with MIU presentations to be scrapped.
Deputy Carthy told Health Minister Stephen Donnelly that the Minor Injuries Unit should be utilised in order to ease pressure on both GP services and A&E departments. He was speaking on a Sinn Féin private members motion which proposed measures aimed at addressing hospital waiting lists which now stand at almost 900,000 across the State.
“There are now 1.34 million people in the State on health waiting lists,” Deputy Carthy stated. “Some 893,000 of those are on hospital waiting lists. It is an absolute scandal that has been decades in the making. It is the result of mismanagement, incompetence and a lack of political will to address the gross inequalities that lie at the heart of Ireland’s health service. This inequality is illustrated by the undeniable fact that access to healthcare is often determined by one’s wealth and where one lives. “Week after week, I speak to people waiting for essential treatment for themselves or their children who have been blatantly told that if they can go private the care…
