Hospital Crisis Direct Result Of Govt Underfunding

The current crises in hospitals is a direct result of government underfunding, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has said.

Deputy Adams said the decision in favour of strike action by nurses is a completely understandable response by frontline health workers who perform heroics on a daily basis.

Deputy Adams said: "Today's decision by nurses follows a number of shocking cases including one in which a man in his 90s spent 29 hours on a trolley in Tallaght A&E.

"While the situation is very worrying for patients and their families this is a completely understandable response from frontline health workers.

"Nurses are performing heroics on a daily basis under increasing pressure as the government continually fails to deal with the overcrowding crisis.

"This is a result of the continued underfunding of our health services by this government who prefer to give tax breaks to high earners than to invest in our public services.

"It should be remembered that a key election promise by Enda Kenny was to end the hospital trolley scandal.

"However, under Ministers Reilly and Varadkar, the public health system has lurched from one crisis to another.

"Minister Varadkar must now engage positively with the INMO.

"Ultimately the only solution to this crisis is increased investment.  We need to reverse the cuts to the health services implemented over the years by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour.

"Sinn Féin proposes to recruit 2,500 nurses over five years if in government, with further recruitment envisaged in a second term of office."

(MH/CD)