Kerry Deputies Raise Health Issues in Dáil Éireann

Martin Ferris, TD one of the Kerry representatives to raise health issues in Dáil Éireann this week. ©Photograph:  John Reidy
Martin Ferris, TD one of the Kerry representatives to raise health issues in Dáil Éireann this week. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Ferris Raises Plight of Families Awaiting Respite
Sinn Féin TD for Kerry Martin Ferris has once again raised the plight of families with adult children with physical or intellectual disabilities on the floor of the Dáil.
This week under the order of business Deputy Ferris said that families are continuously having to fight for basic services for their loved ones.

At Breaking Point

“This situation cannot continue,” Deputy Ferris continued: “Parents and families in Kerry are at breaking point.

“There has to be a commitment from the Government that they will provide adequate respite care.

They will also have to increase the funding for this basic service and that these struggling families will get relief and their children will get respite care.

A Terrible Indictment

“It is the very least they deserve. It is a terrible indictment of our state that in 2017 parents have to beg for fair treatment for their adult children,” Mr. Ferris concluded.

Belfast Hospital Can Take Eye, Hip and Knee Operations from South – Michael Healy Rae, TD

Michael Healy Rae, TD - hospital in Belfast to take patients. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Michael Healy Rae, TD – hospital in Belfast to take patients. ©Photograph: John Reidy

A hospital in Belfast known as Kingsbridge Private Hospital has confirmed that they are willing to take patients from the south of Ireland to undergo cataract operations as well as hip and knee replacements, – according to a bulletin from Deputy Michael Healy Rae.
“This is good news for people suffering pain and distress for a long time and in particular people who are in danger of going blind.
“For example a cataract operation can be carried out under a day procedure and the initial consultation can take place the day before the procedure so the one trip to Belfast and one over- night stay before the procedure will ensure a quick fix.
“The cost for example for a cataract operation is €1,500 sterling or approximately €1,800 which must be paid by the patient but can be reimbursed by the HSE and this can be organised through the hospital.”
Deputy Michael Healy Rae has confirmed these facts and also confirms that if patients contact the hospital directly the hospital may then be able to organise for them to travel in groups and this travel may be subsidised
“It is simply not good enough that the HSE is failing in its duty to take care of our citizens but if people are in urgent need, and are able to travel, this is a real quick fix solution,” said Deputy Healy Rae.

Danny Healy Rae, TD raising issues around Parkinson's Disease. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Danny Healy Rae, TD raising issues around Parkinson’s Disease. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Deputy Danny Healy Rae on the Significant Challenge of Parkinson’s
In Dáil Éireann during the week, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae said that the management of common chronic diseases, such as Parkinson’s, is now one of the most significant challenges our health care system faces.

He said it requires us to find ways of providing health care services to help patients and their families.

Deputy Healy Rae said that he hopes that by raising the issue there it would help to highlight the need for funding and services to be provided so that the patients can be partners in the management of their condition and cope better with it.

“We know of almost 12,000 patients in the country, and approximately 600 of these are in Kerry. In 2016, Dr. Richard Walsh, a consultant neurologist in Tallaght hospital, published a landmark Irish study on Parkinson’s disease in partnership with the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland. The study showed that the number of people living with the disease in Ireland is predicted to double over the next 20 years but treatment in Ireland is shamefully well below international standards,” said Deputy Healy Rae.

“I remind the Minister of State that three of the nurse specialists are in Dublin and the other two are for the remainder of the country. I ask the Minister of State to provide nursing specialists distributed fairly throughout the country. We should have two in Kerry but we are well entitled to have one.

In reply, Deputy Catherine Byrne said:I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for raising this very important issue of support for sufferers of Parkinson’s disease.

“It is estimated that 700,000 persons in Ireland are affected by neurological disease, 6,000 of whom have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

“With respect to the Deputy and his devotion to the people of Kerry, he is always in the Chamber speaking about his constituents. We all have constituents. I know how when people have Parkinson’s it affects not only the individuals, but their families. In saying this, I am sorry some of the statistics do not cover Kerry in particular, about which the Deputy is speaking, and I will ask that further details can be given to the Deputy.

“I have taken note of the fact he has said there are only five nurse specialists in the country, with three of them in Dublin and two in the rest of the country. This is something that needs to be addressed,” said Deputy Byrne.

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