The plight of a young male constituent waiting for surgery to reverse a colostomy operation was highlighted by Mr Tony Gregory (Independent, Dublin Central) during a resumed debate on the health services.
Mr Gregory said that equity of access to healthcare simply did not exist.
The family of the man, in his early 20s, had contacted him this week, fearing that their son could become suicidal because of his urgent medical needs.
The man was admitted to the A&E unit of a major Dublin hospital in June of last year.
"By the time he was seen, after spending Sunday and part of Monday in casualty, his condition required immediate surgery, and a colostomy operation was performed.
"For a young man, this was psychologically traumatic as well as the physical trauma involved. However, he was assured that a reverse procedure would be carried out within two to three months."
He had, said Mr Gregory, counted every day until the three months were up. He heard nothing, and contacted the hospital, only to be told there were no beds, a ward had been closed, and he would have to wait.
"Today, nine months later, that unfortunate young man is still waiting. Despite repeated calls to the hospital, as well as the traumatic nature of his condition, the answer remained the same: there were no beds available for a patient like him who would need to stay for seven days or more."
Mr Gregory was speaking on the second night of the debate on the Sinn Féin Private Member's motion critical of the Government's performance on the health services, and calling for the resignation of the Minister for Health, Mr Martin.
Strongly defending his record and that of the Government, Mr Martin accused Sinn Féin of being fine on the attack, but did not feel it necessary to propose alternatives.
"In this motion alone, they are calling for many billions in extra expenditure, and they believe that I should resign because I have not provided it. They present an image of a country where no choices ever have to be made. To them, details are for other people."
Mr James Breen (Independent, Clare) warned that the people of his constituency would not stand idly by while resources were allocated elsewhere at the expense of the health services.
"The Minister says that the waiting lists have been reduced. Yet I know people who are waiting for a year for hip operations."
Mr Arthur Morgan (SF, Louth) said his party had proposed a model of a State-funded and State-delivered healthcare system to replace the unequal two-tier structure which existed.
"Sinn Féin is committed to working for a national health service free at the point of delivery for all citizens from the cradle to the grave, and funded from general taxation underpinned by a right of access for all."
A Government amendment to the motion, endorsing its policy, was carried by 69 votes to 52.
