FF fully committed to ‘dignity' in health says new Bandon deputy

FIANNA Fáil TD Margaret Murphy O’Mahony has said Fianna Fáil wants to ensure a ‘greater sense of dignity and compassion’ in a reformed health service.  

The Cork South-West deputy said the party is committed to increasing supports for people with long-term illness.

Deputy Murphy O’Mahony said Fianna Fáil is committed to ensuring real reforms in the health service that put patients at the heart of the system.  ‘During the last Dáil, Fianna Fáil was to the forefront in highlighting the government’s targeting of people on discretionary medical cards, especially from 2012 to 2014,’ she claimed. ‘The subsequent u-turn was important but we believe more can be done, particularly for children with disabilities and people with long-term illness.’

‘We believe a medical card should be provided for all children in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance.  A reformed health service would secure a more humane system for discretionary medical cards and that people with very serious illnesses which is causing them undue financial hardship will receive a discretionary medical card,’ said the Bandon-based deputy.

She added that Fianna Fáil wants to ‘ease the burden’ on families and patients with long-term illnesses.  ‘I have met people across West Cork who have seen the €2.50 prescription charge cause them real hardship.  It is having a disproportionate impact on people on fixed incomes such as pensioners,’ she said.  She said that eliminating prescription charges on a phased basis was a key goal for Fianna Fáil.

‘Reforming the health service is a serious commitment.  Fianna Fáil wants credible reforms that put patients and services first.  My colleague Billy Kelleher has made this a key plank of the party’s agenda.  Increased care in the community, building up primary care across West Cork and enabling older people to stay living in their own home as long as possible are all extremely important to me.  This will require increased investment but it will be an investment that represents good value for money in the long-run.’

Deputy Murphy O’Mahony added that healthcare professionals are already champions of many of the reforms our health service needs. ‘I believe we can deliver a better health service – one that is more compassionate and enables patients to be cared for in safety and with dignity.’