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SIPTU General Secretary critical of 'Americanisation' of Health Service

Date Released: 14 Apr 2008

Ireland’s two tier health system is being heavily promoted by a Government policy that is driving the Americanisation of our health service - where the patient is seen as a commodity rather than a person in need of care, declared SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn.

“This is seriously eroding the confidence of the public and at the same time undermining the morale of a tremendously dedicated and conscientious staff working at all levels within the health system,” he said.

“It is also happening against a back drop of an OECD report of recent years which showed the US as having the second worst level of health care in the developed world.

“The health services in the 1980s were characterised by hospital closures, bed cuts and staff embargoes, due mainly to severe pressures on the public finances.  Given the tremendous success of Ireland’s economy over the last decade in particular, it is ironic that we seem to be encountering the same savage attacks on the public health services once again – with staff embargoes, ward closures and bed cuts being the order of the day.

“This is exemplified by today’s announcement that a five million state-of-the-art A&E facility in the Mercy Hospital in Cork is to open on a day basis only - due to insufficient resources being made available to operate the unit adequately.  And all of this, at a time when we have an increasing and aging population.

“The consequences for patients who have to suffer enormous anxiety and anguish - while waiting to secure results and treatment - is scandalous in a so-called civilised society - with the financial resources to provide a quality public health care system which is accessible and available to all at the point of demand regardless of means,” he concluded.





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