Planned government job cuts will "finish off" Irish health system

Cllr Anthony Kelly has said that the planned axing of 25,000 public sector jobs by the new Fine Gael/Labour coalition will have an extreme adverse affect on the Irish health system, and will in essence "finish off" whats left of our states health service. The Wexford town Sinn Féin rep has admitted that the new programme for government promises much reform for the health service, but said that he was worried that the exact number of health staff working in the front line that will lose their jobs had yet to be revealed.

"Twenty five thousand public sector workers will be made redundant under the new programme for government," Cllr Kelly said, "How many of them will come from our health service? You cannot make sweeping cuts in the health service without vastly damaging frontline services. Staff shortages are already affecting patient care. I am conscience that Wexford Labour TD Brendan Howlin has called for a better health service for this nation for that past few years. I urge him to be the moral compass for the Fine Gael/Labour coalition now, and to resist any actions that may further damage health services in Ireland. I warn him that if he does not, he and his new government colleagues will have to face an electorate that has already decimated one political giant this year."

"There is still no sign that Fine Gael and Labour will reverse the health cuts imposed by Fianna Fail and the Greens. This new government is tied to the same irresponsible, failed economic policies of the Fianna Fail regime. I hope that they don't run the health service in the same manner."

People with disablities must be protected - Kelly

Cllr Anthony Kelly has welcomed today's statement by SF  Spokesperson on Equality Aengus Ó Snodaigh confirming the party's commitment of support to people with disabilities and their families. The Sinn Féin general election candidate for County Wexford has said that this is an essential commitment for the incoming government.

"We all remember the scenes of distress last year when cuts were implemented against the disabled," Cllr kelly said. "It made me angry at the time to know that the elected government of our nation were happier to cut our most vulnerable citizens to cover the cost of bailing out toxic banks and high risk bondholders. But being angry isn't enough. I'm glad to say that I am standing in this coming election as a candidate for a party that when in government will fully reverse these cruel cuts. I am glad to say that Sinn Féin believes that a political choice to target the wealthy is better than allowing the continuation of extreme austerity measures against our most vulnerable."

“Should we be elected to government, we are committed to immediately restoring these payments to their 2010 rate levels and to introduce a Cost of Disability Payment on a phased basis, to offset extra costs related to disability and in recognition of disproportionate rates of poverty and unemployment among people with disabilities. People with disabilities have been a target for government cuts both directly and indirectly. Their incomes have been cut, services are under increasing strain and funding to the voluntary organisations that provide services and advocate for people with disabilities have also been cut. Sinn Féin identified €150 million to ease the recruitment embargo on the public service which is having a serious impact on service delivery including disability services. We must make these changes if we are to living in a true republic of equals."

Right to Health Care must be enshrined in the Constitution

The Sinn Féin general election candidate in County Wexford has said that the right to health care must be actively enshrined in our constitution. Speaking today in New Ross town, Cllr Anthony Kelly has said that the failed two tiered health system has cost hundreds of Irish lives over the past decade, and that change must be made now to safeguard our people.

Cllr Kelly said;

"We must reform our health system now. How many people have been taken from us because they couldn't afford adequate health care. Even during the supposed prosperity of the Celtic Tiger, people were dying due to an unfair health system, where those who may have needed care less could leap frog seriously sick people through the use of an unjust two tiered health system. The two-tier system is inherently inequitable and inefficient and it has to go. Sinn Féin has comprehensive proposals to transform our health care services."

"What we are proposing is the creation of a new universal public health care system for Ireland that provides care to all free at the point of delivery, on the basis of need alone, and funded from general fair and progressive taxation. We are proposing the establishment of a Health Funding Commission to help plan the transition to the new system. This is doable. Ignore the naysayers in Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour. They couldn't for see this change when we were the third richest country in the world, of course they cant envision it now. But we can"

"In power, Sinn Féin would  abolish prescription charges for medical card patients and introduce measures to reduce the cost of drugs by tackling waste and profiteering. We would restore Ministerial and Departmental responsibility for public health services, remove the excessive bureaucracy of the HSE and cap salaries at 100,000 euros. Above all the next Dail must actively enshrine the right to health care in our constitution."

Sinn Féin supports student nurses

County Wexford Sinn Féin candidate Anthony Kelly has reiterated what his party's health spokesperson said earlier today by pressing home that Sinn Féin fully support student nurses in their fight against unfair and unjust government cuts.

"I have also been a campaigner for a better health service for this nation," Cllr Kelly said earlier this evening, "We cant have a better health service without our nurses. For all the failings of the Irish health service, our front line staff have never let the people of this country down. Now it is up to the people of this country to stand behind our front line staff. We will not allow draconian cuts to be enforced on these nurses. We are committed to reversing the cuts to pay of student nurses, and would vote immediately to restore the wages of working fourth year student nurses and midwives."

“We commend the many thousands of nurses and midwives who have campaigned not only against the unjust paycuts placed on them, but very importantly against the many cuts in services to patients over recent years. It is most often the nurses who have blown the whistle on the HSE and the Government, exposing malpractice, the reality of A&E overcrowding and the myriad other effects of Government cutbacks.”

Health reform needed to deal with Health crisis

County Wexford Sinn Féin’s general election candidate has said that his party proposes complete reform of the state health service to end the hospital crisis.  Cllr Anthony Kelly, a long time advocate of a fairer health service has said that only those who can afford to do so should be contributing to the provision of health care through fair taxation, and that health care should be available to all based on need and need alone, not on ability to pay.

“In 2006 the then Minister for Health said that we had a national emergency due to the numbers of sick on hospital trolleys,” Cllr Kelly said, “But now those figures have returned and little is said in explanation and even less offered as solution by our government.  We have record numbers of people on trolleys while hospital beds across the land remained closed.  Our hospitals are under staffed yet the HSE maintains a recruitment embargo and allows gifted student nurses to emigrate.  GPs are in short supply and where they are active; their fees can put people off getting treatment.  VHI hike their rates which imposes a further burden on thousands of families.  This is a crisis, and immediate action is required.”

“We in Sinn Féin see this general election has an opportunity to bring about massive change to Irish politics,” Cllr Kelly said.  “This change must include sweeping health reform.  For many years I have called for an end to the two tiered health service and the establishment of one health service based on equality and decency.  Now is the time to bring this service about.  Sinn Féin has proposed the establishment of a Health Funding Commission to plan the transition to such a fairer and more equitable system.

"Good riddance to Harney & co. - Lets take our county back" says Sinn Féin hopeful, Kelly

Sinn Féin general election candidate, Cllr. Anthony Kelly, has called
on the people of County Wexford to "take their county back"

He was speaking in advance of a rally of Sinn Féin members in North
Wexford which was held in The Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey on Monday
evening (24th) and in the wake of the departure of Health Minister,
Mary Harney from office during the past week.
He said:

"We in Sinn Féin Loch Garman have for many years been campaigning for
the upgrading of Wexford General Hospital and have been fighting to
have the existing services protected.  Health is a basic right in any
republic.  We've always argued for an end to the present two-tiered
system; one waiting list for all in a public health service free at the
point of entry."

Addressing Minister Harney who stepped down during the week, Cllr. Kelly said:

"I'm sure we speak for countless people on hospital trolleys this week
when we say good riddance!  You and your government have damaged the
health of this state for too long!  We now need to intensify the fight
to upgrade Wexford General so that those living in the Gorey district,
will never in the event of an accident or emergency, be forced to
chose between a long trip north to St.Vincents in Dublin or south
through traffic in New Ross to get to Waterford Hospital.

He claimed that the "latest INMO figures which showed that Wexford
General has lost a total of 39 beds had confirmed Sinn Féin's belief that a
process of downgrading by stealth has been taking place across our
health service."

"We in Sinn Fein have contradicted the lie that we don't have the
money to build a first class public health service.  We just need elect
parties who will burn the bondholders, tax those who can most afford
to pay and divert this money towards supporting public services."

Referring to the Finance Bill which gives legal effect to the Fianna
Fáil/Green budget, he slammed Fine Gael / Labour for seeking to have
it pushed through this week.  It attacks the most vulnerable with a plan
to slash 1 billion from our health service.  How can you support this
and then try to fool the people of County Wexford into thinking that
you are offering a real alternative?"

He concluded by urging "all progressive minded people, who yearn for
change and regardless of previous political affiliations to join with
Sinn Fein in the campaign over the coming weeks to take their county,
and indeed country back from the Gombeenmen and women who have sold it
out in recent years".

Reopen closed beds in WGH now

Sinn Féin’s Cllr. Anthony Kelly has called upon the HSE to reopen thirty nine closed beds at Wexford General Hospital immediately.  The call from the general election candidate comes after a nationwide report from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation identified 1,672 beds closed, despite the fact that emergency departments are severely overcrowded at this time.

“The latest INMO survey confirms that a process of downgrading by stealth has been carried out on hospitals across this nation,” Cllr Kelly said.  “Wexford General has lost thirty nine beds.  These beds must be reopened immediately to give our patients back their dignity.  The overcrowding crisis in our hospital is manageable, but it will require original thought, prompt action and a bit of compassion, things which our current Minister for Health sadly lacks.  Sinn Féin fully supports the INMO in their call for the reopening of these beds.  We have campaigned against the downgrading of our health service right across the country, and have called for real reform of the Irelands health service for many years now.”

Cllr Kelly, a long term advocate of a fairer, more efficient health service, went on to commend frontline staff for their patience and dedication in the face of such incompetence from the Health Minister.  “The Minister for Health might be useless, and the HSE horribly mismanaged but our frontline health workers have continued to do a superb job, and the staff of Wexford General Hospital in particular must be praised for never letting our county down,” Cllr Kelly said.  “Their service can form the basis of a new national health service that will provide the highest quality care appropriate to the needs of each individual. That is the health service that Sinn Féin aims to build in a new Ireland.”