Mattie McGrath: Slams A&E mismanagement, accuses minister
Mattie McGrath spoke in the house about severe A&E pressures in Clonmel and alleged mismanagement, and he accused the minister of misleading the Taoiseach over home help waiting lists. He described ambulances queuing at Clonmel A&E, warned about winter pressures and demanded the minister correct the record and address hospital closures.
A&E pressures in Clonmel
He said he was contacted to go to A&E in Clonmel and described five ambulances parked around quarter to six on a September evening. He reported three full ambulances on arrival, a paramedic responder car and a private ambulance leaving, and warned about what would happen in winter.
Allegations over waiting lists
He accused the minister of misleading the Taoiseach about the number of people waiting for home help in South Tipperary. He said he checked with his head of services and was told there were 118 waiting as of that day, criticised the use of August figures, and urged the minister to correct the record when speaking in the house.
Hospital closures and local services
He criticised the closure of local hospitals used by people in East Waterford, South Tipperary and South Kilkenny, calling the closure disgraceful and saying a report quoted to justify the closure did not exist. He referenced St. Bridges and Callaghan Shore and said the minister had not met the committee as claimed, only two members briefly at an external cabin.
Management and staffing concerns
He blamed mismanagement and dysfunction in A&E rather than attributing all problems to COVID, saying managers must manage staff and that sometimes no doctors are available because they must leave with a patient to go elsewhere. He also cited issues at Cork University Hospital that he said began in November 20 as part of a wider pattern of concern.
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Ministers, I am glad you are here this evening to listen at least. Look, the situation is truly shocking. I was again contacted yesterday evening at about half five to go to A&E in Clonmel. There were five ambulances parked up there at quarter to six. It was a lovely, beautiful September evening. What are we going to do for the winter? When I arrived, there were three full ambulances, big ambulances and one paramedic responder care and one private ambulances just leaving. It is shocking that the pressures are under, but the mismanagement and the dysfunction in A&E, and you are blaming all now on COVID, but you can't blame it on COVID because we saw what happened, how everything happened in Cork University Hospital and it started in November 20, before ever. Now also, Ministers, look, unless you get managers in and are able to manage and manage the people, no doctors in A&E sometimes, they have to leave with a patient to go elsewhere. Are you trying to close down that hospital? I also want to ask you, Minister Butler, to please correct the record in this house. Today, you whispered to the Taoiseach that I asked the question about the number of people waiting for home help in Tipperary. Thousands and thousands waiting nationally. And you said, told the Taoiseach to tell the house, and he did in good faith, that there was no one in South Tipperary. And you can wave all the sheets you like. Correct the record, please. There was no one in South Tipperary. I checked with our head of services and I was told at 118 as of today. I sent you a text and you came back and said, yes, you will give an August figures. Why mislead the house to the Taoiseach? He was trying to answer without you misleading him. You also mislead him last week in St. Bridges and Callaghan Shore, saying you had met the committee, which you hadn't. You did meet two members of the committee. Later on that day, outside in the cabin outside at the front door. So that was correct in. But not whispering mis-tooth to the Taoiseach to the Taoiseach. You should have more respect for your elector in Waterford and South Tipperary, who used St. Bridges and Hospital in Calvary. It's scandalous that you would do that. To mislead him deliberately. And I want you to correct the record. You text me back. Yeah, you checked and there is 118 waiting. Correct the house when you rise to speak, please. And correct it for last week as well. And your people of East Waterford, where you live, and indeed South Tipperary and South Kilkenny. It's disgraceful that you closed the hospital. You have a letter from an official. It's supposed to be a report. There was no report condemning the hospital. You closed it without any good reason. You're copying up now with a letter. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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