Healthcare in shambles, says V de P Society

The provision of healthcare in Ireland, particularly to the disadvantaged, is a shambles, according to the Society of St Vincent de Paul.

Mr John Monaghan, chairman of the society's social policy unit, was speaking at the publication of its health policy document "Health Inequalities and Poverty" yesterday. Describing the Government's stated strategy of delivering a healthcare system based on equity, quality and accountability as a "comprehensive failure", he said adequate healthcare was available to only those who could afford to pay for it. "This is fundamentally unjust."

The health policy document, which is the product of 18 months of research of the experience of society members, health professionals and policymakers, states that Ireland has the worst life expectancy in the EU, the highest rate of premature death caused by coronary heart disease in the EU, the lowest number of acute hospital beds per capita in the EU and a five-year waiting list for children in need of orthodontic treatment.

Among its demands are a significant drop in waiting list times, an immediate increase in the number of acute hospital beds, implementation of the Medical Manpower Forum to deal with the "serious skills shortage", that the medical card eligibility threshold be raised, and health education programmes for disadvantaged communities be formulated and delivered "in a manner acceptable and accessible to them".

Responding to the document findings, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said his Department acknowledged the link between poverty and ill health and said a new strategy was being prepared to address the major issues still facing the health system.

Outlining some of the positive developments, he said: "The waiting lists initiative received £34.5 million from my Department last year and will receive the same this year in support of the objective of no adult waiting for a procedure for more than 12 months and no child more than six months."

The Labour spokeswoman on health, Ms Liz McManus, called for free GP care for all and the introduction of a universal healthcare system.