A Hard Pill to Swallow

I’ve just heard that Prof. Brendan Drumm (CEO HSE) has been wheeled out again to announce on the news that the Health Service is NOT IN CRISIS. I really can’t believe I’m hearing this.

I don’t think that the patients lying on trolleys today in A&E will believe him. Nor will the Consultants, who are hardly happy campers at the moment. Or the demoralised NCHD’s and Nurses for that matter. Try telling this to the thousands of people in this country who are on long waiting lists with serious medical problems. What about all the pensioners in need of home help services as they struggle to live out their days in their own homes? Or the OAP’s who are stuck in hospital because the system can’t find them a suitable step-down bed? I don’t think that people with serious head/spinal injury awaiting crucial specialised rehabilitation will thank him either. Or maybe you are one of those unlucky enough to have cancer and have to travel long distances for treatment? Perhaps your child is suffering from a long-term illness and has to endure cramped, outdated hospital conditions with each admission to hospital. And I don’t expect that you’d be too happy hearing this if you’re stuck in a public hospital bed right now and can’t face using the toilets/showers such is the disgusting state that they are in.

This is indeed a bitter pill to swallow.