The Social Democrats today held an event in Cork to set out the party’s vision for healthcare.
Cllr Pádraig Rice, who is running for the party in Cork South-Central, said:
“We need a healthcare system that is based on need and not ability to pay. When you are sick you shouldn’t have to pay €60 to see a GP, face long waiting lists or find yourself or a loved one on a hospital trolly.
“Healthcare should be accessible, reliable and free at the point of need. This is the norm across Europe, but it’s far from the reality in Ireland.
“At the moment, over 85,000 people are on hospital waiting lists in Cork. People are left waiting far too long. This has to change.
“Last month, more than 1,400 patients were treated on trolleys at Cork hospitals. Of these, 1,126 of them were at CUH, making it the second most overcrowded hospital in Ireland.
“Fixing the healthcare system is a top priority for me and for the Social Democrats.”
Health spokesperson Roisin Shortall said:
“The full implementation of Sláintecare in the term of the next government is a redline for us in any future government.
“The Social Democrats led the way to cross-party agreement on universal health, based on need and not ability to pay, but its implementation has been far too slow.
“The Social Democrats are calling on all political parties to commit to the full implementation of Slaintecare within the next five years and pre-commit the necessary funding at each budget.
“The long waiting lists and inequality in our health service are down to political choices, which have favoured vested interest over the public interest. We must change this and realise the full potential of Sláintecare by committing to a much more urgent and ambitious approach.
“Healthcare is a right. We must bring our system into line with the kind of accessible healthcare available in other European countries.”
November 15, 2024