New health groups slammed by Mayo senator

A MAYO Fine Gael Oireachtas member has hit out that the new health care groups formed by the HSE are not benefitting those who need health care in an ageing population.

Senator Michelle Mulhern stated that in the Saolta west-north west region, which covers Mayo, there has been a 16% increase in demand in primary care, but there has been a 25% cut in the budget in the past year.

He continued: “As a direct result, primary care services have been severely diminished, which is a reversal of what we ought to be doing given what we know about early intervention and about it being cheaper if we get to people earlier.

“However, resulting from this, in the past year alone 167 whole-time positions have been lost in our area.

“These include occupational therapists, physiotherapists and those working in the primary care sector. I am wondering what is going on.

“I know it is difficult and that there are so many aspects and layers to the health care and its budget, but these facts do not impress me much.

“I do not see any benefit arising in my county from the new health care groups for those who need health care and for the ageing population.

“Furthermore, we cannot attract nurses. Who would want to work in an emergency department given the stress and pressure involved? A cousin of mine is a newly-qualified nurse. She has all the opportunities in the UK available to her.

“She would not dare come back to what she calls battle zones. This is complex.”