We deserve better healthcare, Independent Ireland promises to deliver

Cllr Noel Thomas has outlined the key areas of healthcare policy that Independent Ireland have pledged to delivery should they form part of the next government. Speaking at Galway Regional Hospital Thomas said “We want to support carers, support those suffering from cancer and offer new supports and incentives for our healthcare workers to encourage our newly qualified healthcare workers to stay and to make it easier for them to live and work in Ireland, with the introduction of new housing supports for our front line staff”.

Ireland’s healthcare system is increasingly unable to meet demand and Irish citizens frequently wait months or years for necessary procedures. Hospital beds are chronically in short supply and primary care staff are overwhelmed by their workload. The bottom line is we need more doctors, nurses, and hospitals. This means we need more funding and competent management of the HSE to ensure that funding is well spent.

Key Policy Positions:

• Automatic medical card for all cancer sufferers

• Abolish means test for carers

• Housing support for healthcare workers

• Reimbursement scheme for private hospitals to deliver faster treatment to public patients to alleviate waiting lists