‘We are facing a perfect storm’ – Waterford TD unveils €1.9bn plan to protect health service
A Waterford TD today unveiled a new €1.9 billion plan to protect our ailing health service from “a perfect strom”.
Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane published his party’s released his party’s proposals as he called on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to take “urgent action” to protect services and frontline workers.
The local poll-topper said: “Our health service is facing a perfect storm. Patients and healthcare workers need our support.
“We have a plan for reopening the economy, we have a plan for reopening schools. Now we need a realistic plan to protect Ireland’s health.
“Sinn Féin has proposed a €1.9 billion plan to protect capacity in the health service. Every option has to be on the table, and workers need to be guaranteed certainty i their employment.”
Under the Sinn Féin plan, physical infrastructure would be expanded through “space in the community”. It also calls for “repurposing space in acute hospitals” and for the creation of “modular units” to provide extra space.
Deputy Cullinane said the pandemic has “exposed a decades-long failure to build a public health system” that has sufficient doctors, nurses and beds.
The Waterford TD (pictured below) added: “Pre-Covid, our health system was in crisis. Now, it is under pressure on several fronts: overworked staff, Covid care, non-Covid care, catching up on delayed care, a vast reduction in capacity, and the looming winter flu.
“There are now more than 700,000 people on waiting lists, and this will continue to grow. We could lose from 20 to 40% bed capacity.
“Frontline staff are at burnout and cannot continue to work overtime in understaffed conditions. This is not safe or fair for staff or patients.
“This is an emergency – it needs emergency response.”
For more details on Sinn Féin health propsoals, visit:
https://ash.webhostingireland.ie:2096/cpsess9396491749/3rdparty/roundcube/?_task=mail&_mbox=INBOX
