Fianna Fáil unveils health policy

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has acknowledged “clear problems” in emergency departments in the State’s hospitals, but said the way to tackle the difficulties was not to dismantle the system.

Speaking at the launch of his party’s health policy, Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil believed in a strong public health system.

He pointed out that the Health Service Executive (HSE) was only five years old. "We can't change the two-tier system with the magic wave of a wand," he said.

He said significant changes in the health sector needed to be implemented by 2014 and most of this would be achieved through pay and administrative costs. Charges for private and semi-private treatment in public hospitals should be increased, while "prescribing behaviours" would also be targeted to generate savings in job costs.

Staff numbers in the HSE should be reduced further over the next four years, he said, adding this would be achieved by non-replacement and the recruitment embargo.

The work day should be expanded from 8am until 8pm. A greater range of services should be available in community settings, so that patients can access services in the evenings and at weekends.

"We are committed to reducing duplication in resources spent on administration and diverting these resources to frontline services and patients," he said.

Fianna Fáil would not pursue the policy of co-location, he said. However, the signed contracts relating to projects at four hospitals would be respected.

Asked to outline how Fianna Fáil's health policy was costed, Mr Martin said the National Economic Recovery Plan contained figures "in terms of budgets for health, year by year, over the next four years".