Mattie McGrath: Accuses Health Service of Failing Medical Scientists
Mattie McGrath criticised the treatment of medical scientists and the wider failures of the health system, accusing the HSE and the minister of neglecting frontline staff and mishandling pay and resources. He welcomed the withdrawal of pickets and urged talks, demanding respect and immediate action on pay and staffing.
Medical scientists and testing
Medical scientists carry out critical diagnostic testing of patients in acute hospitals, including urgent testing for COVID, he said. He stressed their vital role and warned that mistreatment has driven staff from the service, leaving a bigger mess behind.
History of the dispute and pickets
He said the dispute had been settled 20 years ago and has since been reopened by decisions at the HSE. He welcomed that pickets had been withdrawn and that there was now room for talks, while warning that picketing should not be the last word in an already congested system.
Criticism of priorities and spending
He accused those in charge of failing people every hour and criticised apparent readiness to spend on senior figures and travel - naming Paul Reid and Mr Watt and referencing flights and taxis to Dubai - while neglecting frontline staff. He said announcements have been full of flourish but staff have not been looked after.
Pay promises and accountability
He questioned whether many of those promised the 1,000 euro frontline payment actually received it and challenged the minister to deliver on commitments. He repeatedly demanded respect for front-line workers and insisted it was time to 'pony up' and resolve pay and staffing issues.
Structural change proposal
He proposed disbanding the HSE forthwith and setting up regional organisations to better look after staff and services, framing this as necessary to address ongoing challenges and improve care.
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Medical scientists carry out critical diagnostic testing of patients as samples in acute hospitals including urgent testing for COVID and everything else. They played their part. This dispute was settled 20 years ago, this issue, and then for some reason some people in the H.C. decided to overturn it again and now we have this problem again. I welcome the fact that they've gone back and that the pickets have been withdrawn today and there's room for talks because picketting's last word especially in the congested health system, the failed health system that we have, the failed health system that you're in charge of and it's failing people every minute of every hour of every day and this vital component of very important diagnostic people being mistreated in this way and been fleeing the service and leaving a bigger mess behind it. No problem getting money from Paul Reid, no problem getting money for Mr Watt, no problem hire a taxi for God knows how much out in Dubai or flights or anything else. No problem for anything like that, throw money at it. But when it comes to looking after the very most important people, key people, front line, key people, you won't look after them and have failed to do that for years and years and years, have failed to look after them. So I'm saying to you Minister, it's time to pony up here, it's time to listen and respect it, above all respect it. I still don't know if a quarter of any or many of the people who promised the 1,000 euro, the front line, got it. Big glaze of glory, you're good at announcements but you're not good at looking after your staff and that's the difference with the HSE. It should be disbanded forthwith and regional organisations set up and look after the people. time again, there will be It's time to go to the 100e and that's the challenge so you don't notice, and hopefully we'll deal with the challenges.
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