Ireland: Summary and Text of radical New FG FairCare Health Policy

Fine Gael’s FairCare proposals, certainly represent the most fundamental reform of the health system since the formation of the State.The policies pursued by the government have failed. Unfortunately the reaction of government Minister Barry Andrews is to say the least disappointing. The time for political point scoring is over. Adopt these policies NOW. Fix our health service NOW

Speaking at the launch of his Party’s FairCare Health proposals today (Monday), Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny TD said:

For the last ten years the Government’s answer to any problem in the health service was to throw taxpayers’ money at it. Billions were wasted and the health service was never reformed in any fundamental way. As a result, Ireland’s health system is now ranked 24th in Europe in terms of value for money. Even today, as we face the worst economic crisis in this State’s history, the Government is slashing health budgets without introducing any meaningful reform. In mid 2008 I established a Health Commission chaired by our former leader Alan Dukes, to develop a radical and patient focused solution that will give us the Health Service that we deserve within a five year time frame. Our approach is built around the patient, rewarding performance from doctors and hospitals, and ensuring that there will no longer be a two tier health system.

Fine Gael has looked in particular detail at the Dutch health system as a model for Ireland’s health service. The Netherlands spends only slightly more than us on health on a per capita basis, but has minimal waiting lists and is ranked number 1 in Europe for health. Under Fine Gael’s proposals, we will move towards the Dutch system, where everyone has mandatory health insurance, either subsidised or fully financed by the State. In its first 30 days in Government, Fine Gael will work with all the major stakeholders in the health service to agree an implementation plan so that the proven Dutch system of UHI is best adapted to Irish circumstances. Our health reform programme represents the most revolutionary change in the Irish health system since its establishment.
There will be some who will say that we cannot afford major reforms at a time of recession. To them I say: as budgets come under more pressure we can't afford not to reform our €16 billion a year health system.

A summary of the proposals is available here

Full Text of proposals here

Eoghan Harris-an FF/PD apologist

Eoghan Harris is no mean exponent of the pen. Unfortunately his political analysis leaves much to be desired. In his Sunday Independent column he is prepared to defend the indefensible if necessary as he strives to promote the Governments record on Health. He is rapidly developing into a political apologist for the FF/PD Government. Come back Pravda. All is forgiven.

In the Irish context he states that Mary Hanafin, Beverly Flynn and Mary Harney are courageous politicians. Interestingly all three are from the FF gene pool. He mentions Hillary Clinton. Obviously Harris knows very little about "Hillarycare." In the words of Mitt Romney: "She hasn't run a corner store. She hasn't run a state. She hasn't run a city. She has never run anything."

He then denigrates Dr James Reilly (FG). He conveniently omits to state that FG health spokesman, Dr James Reilly put down the question -at the Oireachtas Health Committee meeting- which elicited the response that 97 women who had breast ultrasounds at Portlaoise Hospital were to be recalled for surgical review. Harris should listen to James Reilly. He might actually learn something about the reality of life for women suffering from breast cancer.

He raises the issue of bi-partisanship on the health issue. The Government has a 13 seat majority(including Ned O Keeffe). Is this not sufficient to reform the Health Service? No Harris is concerned to protect the Government from flak ensuing from unpopular decisions in the Health Service. The Harris motto is: Tie in the opposition parties and insulate the Government.

There is now a strong opposition. It is the duty of the opposition to ask the hard questions. This is a sine qua non if our democracy is to flourish.

The last FF /PD Government -with Mary Harney as Minister for Health-established the HSE. It is a bureaucratic monster that is gobbling up valuable financial resources but cutting back on front line services. In the words of Harris : " Harney is fighting the good fight". Unfortunately this is of little benefit to seriously ill patients. Eoghan Harris needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

Ireland-Dr James Reilly (FG) exposes major deficiencies in cancer detection at Portlaoise Hospital

FG health spokesman, Dr James Reilly, called for Mary Harney’s resignation following the revelation today that 97 women who had breast ultrasounds at Portlaoise Hospital are to be recalled for surgical review.
This devastating news was revealed on foot of a question he put at the Oireachtas Health Committee rather than through direct contact from the HSE. RTE television News in its report failed to credit Dr Reilly with this question.

Dr Reilly stated "These reviews of ultrasounds were taking place at the same time as the review of mammograms. This means that the HSE has had three months to inform women of this need for a surgical review as it emerged, but failed to do so."
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He said that while 97 women had so far been recalled, and claimed that with 177 clinical cases still to be reviewed, the probability is that more women would be recalled for review.
Dr Reilly said that more women might have been given false all clears, in addition to the nine already identified as having been misdiagnosed following the review of mammograms at the hospital.
"The Minister was alerted to the problems in this area two-and-a-half years ago and failed to take control of the problem and simply passed the buck."

Dr Reilly is one of the star performers in the Dail.He is highly talented,articulate, forceful and well briefed.

Ireland-Health Service Executive is a bureaucracy which must be reformed

During Dáil Questions today (Wednesday), the Minister for Health admitted that the number of Grade Eight Middle Managers in the health service had grown by 37% and said she hoped there was scope for voluntary redundancies, according to Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly TD. Dr Reilly highlighted the plight of patients awaiting admission to the National Rehabilitation Hospital which cannot now discharge patients because of the health cutbacks.



Interesting to note the use of the word hope by the Minister. The Minister has expressed no concern for frontline staff laid off. No talk of voluntary redundancies for them. No concern for the patients. What are her proposals to halt this madness?



As Minister for Health, Mary Harney must take hard decisions to reduce administrative costs of the HSE. The HSE bureaucratic monster was established by the last FF/PD government to streamline the health service. It could shelter the FF/PD politicians from the backlash which would inevitably occur when hospital closures and cutbacks occurred. Whilst front line services are being cut in places such as Sligo,top executives may get bonuses of around €20,000. The number of Grade Eight Middle Managers has grown by 37% . Can she justify this? Of course not.

The Health Minister is unwilling to admit that patients will be affected by Government-sanctioned health cutbacks. With the onset of Winter the crisis is likely to escalate.