A local Independent TD has said Primary Healthcare Services in Laois “needs to move to 21st Century.”
Deputy Brian Stanley has taken aim at the Government over their “mishandling” of healthcare services in the county.
“The current and previous Fianna Fail and Fine Gael Governments have completely failed to put in the required level of investment in Primary Health Care,” Deputy Stanley said.
“The range of services being provided at local community level in this State is way below that of other developed countries. Beyond basic GP care very little else is available in most parts of Laois.
“One result of this is people with minor ailments and conditions are having to go to overcrowded Hospitals for treatment that should be available in local Primary Healthcare Centres.
“Along with GP services a range of other treatments should be available such as Physiotherapy, Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Mental Health Services Chiropodist and Dental services.
“The facilities such as local Health Centres are in many cases in need of urgent upgrade or replacement. Despite the huge population increase in the county and the fact that we have an ageing population very little investment has been allocated in this area.”
Fianna Fáil took the remarkable step of entering a confidence and supply arrangement with a Fine Gael-led minority government in early 2016.
In 2020, the two parties went a step further aligning themselves together – along with the Green Party – to enter into an unprecedented coalition, with the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rotating between the roles of Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
The political landscape in Ireland changed dramatically with that decision, but in another way it also remained stagnant, protecting the 100-year status quo of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael running the country.
Despite the two parties seeing their popularity plunge, no left-leaning coalition has been able to take advantage in the previous two general elections.
“The most urgent upgrades or replacements are needed in Graiguecullen, Mountrath, Rathdowney and Borris-in-Ossory,” Deputy Stanley said.
“In the case of Borris-in-Ossory, consideration should be given to moving it to the Old Courthouse when it is renovated in the interest of safety and extra space.
“Both Mountrath and Rathdowney need new buildings. In the case of Graiguecullen the existing small Health Centre in Oakley Park needs to be extended and upgraded.
“A new Primary Care Centre has been promised for Portlaoise, but as of yet capital funding has not been allocated for this project. Portlaoise, with a population at almost 30,000 is one of the few towns of this size in the country that does not have a stand alone Primary Care Centre.
“This in itself is a scandal and shows complete failure by Governments.”
Deputy Stanley has been at the centre of a Sinn Féin controversy since he took the decision to resign from the party.
Now an Independent, Deputy Stanley is looking for a home in the new Dáil, with the General Election now looking set for November 29.
The former Sinn Féin TD could even find himself on the other side of the benches after the election, recently saying:
“There’s a number of progressive Independents in the Dáil and if I’m lucky enough to be re-elected to the Dáil I will try to work with those Independents.
“If political parties put forward good ideas, whether it’s from the government or opposition benches, I’m known to be very pragmatic and I will support those.”
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