Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to tonight's debate. Paying VHI or any private health insurance is no longer a matter of luxury. The majority of people have private health insurance because they are afraid of their lives they will die waiting to be seen in our public health system. This is particularly true for elderly people, as many previous speakers have stated. My own constituency office has been inundated with calls relating to the VHI increases. Most people cannot afford an increase of 45%, given the effects of the 2011 budget.

On Wednesday night last, I raised this issue with the Minister for Health and Children on the Adjournment. She indicated that it would not be appropriate for her to intervene with the VHI in matters relating to pricing. The Minister appears to have had a change of heart. This morning, I read in The Irish Times that she has since spoken to the chairman and CEO of the VHI. It is not good enough for the Minister to say she is extremely disappointed. The Minister must take action and address the problem.

I was disappointed last week to hear the Minister say she has kicked the risk equalisation legislation to touch until 2013. In the absence of this legislation and without greater competition in the health insurance market, the cost of private health insurance will continue to rise. Moreover, this will push people into the public health system, which is already in crisis, as we have seen in Limerick Regional Hospital in the mid-west region.

The Minister for Health and Children replied to an Adjournment debate last December on the subject of cardiac services in Ennis General Hospital, as Deputy Joe Carey pointed out. Could the Minister clarify the situation regarding inpatient cardiology services at Ennis General Hospital? In her statement last night, the Minister said cardiac services would continue as usual and there would be no change in the situation at the hospital.

Nevertheless, staff have been informed that the consultant cardiologist and his team will be moving to Limerick on 1 March next. They have been given an additional stay of one month and it appears as though equipment may also be moving. This includes the high dependency unit, HDU, which will also transfer to Limerick. The staff at the high dependency unit provide an excellent service for the people of County Clare and are preventing the clogging up of the system at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick. I have no difficulty with the concept of a centre of excellence or transferring the acute cardiac services to Limerick. However, this service is valuable for people who require monitoring, assessing and treatment, as well as for acute coronary assistance and heart attack patients. Like Deputy Joe Carey, I welcome the fact that the Minister will meet a deputation from Clare comprising the four Oireachtas Members and nurses from the high dependency unit. However, I seek clarity in this regard because there is utter confusion at present in County Clare. I commend the motion.

See this speech in context