Labour Launch National Healthcare Plan

The Labour Party has launched a new national healthcare plan, under which it would introduce universal GP care, "move closer" to universal health care and progress strategies for tackling waiting lists and overcrowding.

Launched by Tánaiste Joan Burton and Minister for Primary Health Care, Kathleen Lynch, the 'Towards a new National Community Health Service' initiative also lays out plans for reducing the costs of necessary medication and enhanced accountability in the management of the Irish Health system.

Speaking at the launch in Cork, Tánaiste Burton said: "The last five years have been challenging for the health service and the people who work in it. It has been a time of change; a time of reform and a time when resources have been stretched. The system is far from perfect. But there have also been significant successes.

"In our health plan which we publish today we set out an ambitious programme for the next five years and beyond. One of these steps will be a plan to increase the number of GPs. We will need to train more doctors. We will need to retain more doctors within the system. We will need to encourage some who have left the system to come back."

Minister Lynch added "Labour has had a positive influence on the development of healthcare policies over the past five years during a very difficult and financially constrained time.

"As a Party at the heart of government we have been in a position to ensure that services for older people, those with disabilities and mental health needs were protected and developed. Furthermore, we delivered free GP care for the under 6s and over 70s.

"Given the potential to develop primary care the Labour Party believe it merits its own separate focus, its own budget and its own cabinet minister."

(MH/LM)