Reform of the health services is long overdue, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said.
He added that they involved changes in the way in which hospitals were configured to ensure patients got the best care, as well as the move to universal health care and insurance.
“In this year’s budget, we announced the first steps in that direction with the introduction of free GP care for children under five years,’’ he added.
“I recognise there are continuing challenges and problems in the health services,’’ Mr Gilmore said.
Mr Gilmore was replying to Fianna Fail TD Sean Ó Fearghail who said the Tánaiste would be aware of the concerns expressed about the HSE’s ability to deliver frontline services next year, particularly when it was faced with a cut of €666 million.
Mr Ó Fearghail asked why the Government, on the one hand, was apparently committed to the universality of health care, while at the same time not allowing children with life-limiting conditions to have medical cards.
Mr Gilmore said the Government’s priority was to ensure that patient care was at the top of all considerations. It was unfortunately the case that budgets for the health services had to be reduced in recent years.Mr O Fearghail said he was disappointed with the Tanaiste’s response. “The reality is that of the 1,400 children nationwide with life-limiting conditions, who are primarily being looked after by the Jack and Jill Foundation, approximately 350 die per annum,’’ he added.
