350 annual avoidable deaths due to waiting lists – Cole

Waiting lists to see GP’s are costing lives according to a Aontú Local Election Candidate in Wexford. Elaine Cole says that forcing sick people to wait to see a doctor or get hospital procedures was detrimental to our society.

“According to the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine some 300 to 350 of our citizens die avoidably every year as a result of lack of treatment,” Mrs Cole said. “Three quarters of a million people are currently on hospital waiting lists. It’s now becoming normal practice to have to wait for up to a week for an appointment with a GP in Wexford. This a sad indictment of our health system and proof that radical change is needed.”

“Every family interacts with their local GP. It makes sense that we should prioritise them during this national health crisis. Aontú believes GP’s should be incentivised to offer a wider range of services, either directly or through an Integrated Group Practice. It is clear that with increased investment in facilities, staff and ongoing professional development, GP’s can offer a much wider set of services, including minor surgical procedures.”

“Around 1800 hospital beds were lost to austerity cuts over the past ten years. Prioritising GP services is only one way out of this mess. In the short term we must utilise all available private beds to cut down the massive public hospital waiting lists. Lives are at risk here and unprecedented measures are needed to tackle this crisis.”