Laois woman on four-year waiting list slams ‘dismissive’ Dáil response
Portlaoise woman disappointed with lack of engagement from government
Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley recently raised the case of a young Portlaoise woman with a neurological condition who is on a four-year waiting list to be seen by a consultant.
The Leinster Express / Laois Live recently told the story of 23 year old Caoimhe Dunne, who is on a four year waiting list to see a specialist consultant for her neurological condition.
Since her diagnosis, the Portlaoise woman has been campaigning to raise awareness of the shortfalls in patient care surrounding movement disorders, sharing information online and petitioning her local representatives and Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.
Ms Dunne has received no response from the Minister, following her letter and several follow-up emails.
Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley recently raised Ms Dunne’s case during Leaders Questions in the Dáil.
“Caoimhe is anxious to get back to work but she cannot,” Deputy Stanley told the Dáil.
“She has no access to adult occupational therapy services - nor does anybody else by the way - as there is none in County Laois. I have raised this many times in the Dáil and with the Minister.
“I ask the Minister to get the Minister for Health to address this,” Deputy Stanley said.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Peter Burke, acknowledged Deputy Stanley’s question.
“The Deputy has a significant concern in relation to his constituent who is absolutely waiting too long. I will raise the issue with the Minister for Health,” Deputy Burke said.
“However, we have done a huge amount in relation to primary care improvements and reducing waiting lists. We have had an intervention specifically to reduce waiting lists. I will raise this specific issue with the Minister for Health and bring it to her attention,” he said.
Speaking with the Leinster Express / Laois Live, Ms Dunne was disappointed with Deputy Burke’s response.
“I’m not shocked by it. It’s very dismissive, in my opinion,” she said.
“It’s a very short response, not a lot actually said. They say that they have done a huge amount, yet they haven’t given a single example to with this,” she said.
“My main issue is that last April, the Neurological Alliance of Ireland published a report showing that 24,000 people are awaiting neurological services. This figure has doubled since 2016, when the Government brought out an act to increase services,” she said.
“I think that saying, ‘we’ve done a lot’ is not good enough when reports show that waiting lists have doubled. In all of the research I have done, the hours and hours I have spent searching, I haven’t found anything to show time and effort was put into decreasing waiting times,” she said.
“I’m not surprised at the comment, I’m disappointed. I think it’s not good enough.”
Ms Dunne alleged that it was essentially the same response that Sen Maria McCormack received, when the senator raised Ms Dunne’s story in the Seanad.
“Hopefully I will soon get some form of comment from the Minister, I’m going to keep pushing for this. I want to hear what they have implemented,” Ms Dunne finished.