467 appointments at Cavan and Monaghan Hospital have been cancelled since the beginning of the year. That's according to Deputy Pauline Tully who was reacting to data released by the HSE to Sinn Fein which indicates that more that 85,000 appointments have been cancelled nationally in 2023.
Deputy Tully says that dysfunction across the health service is driving a vicious cycle of overcrowding, cancellations, and long waits. She highlighted how a multi-annual plan is needed to expand hospital capacity and develop a sustainable workforce.
Deputy Tully added that patients in Cavan-Monaghan are now "paying the price" for the Government's failure to get to grips with the crisis in the health service.
"The health service is not delivering the right care in the right place at the right time. We are seeing this across primary care now, with longer waiting times for GPs and dentistry, which will lead to worse health outcomes.
"Waiting times are rising across the board. All of this dysfunction is leading to more emergency presentations which is leading to more cancellations. It is a vicious cycle which has not been broken. In the meantime, patients in Cavan-Monaghan are forced to pay the price for the government's failure to get to grips with the crisis in our health service.
"Sinn Féin in government would invest in the health service, to ensure patients get the high quality, timely care they need," Deputy Tully said.
