Cllr Byrne says Louth people deserve better healthcare

Sinn Féin General Election candidate in Louth, Cllr Joanna Byrne, has said that “the people of Louth need and deserve quality healthcare”, and highlighted her party’s healthcare plan, “A Prescription for Change” which she says sets out a detailed plan that would deliver quality healthcare where and when its needed.

Cllr Byrne said: “Last month the INMO Trolley count tells us that 429 people were on trolley’s at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. We have a crisis with GPs where we don’t have enough doctors; medical card holders who can no longer get dentists appointments; and children and young people in crisis that can’t get timely Mental Health supports.

“The most recent figures available from NTPF (National Treatment Purchase Fund) paint a grim picture, showing 17,329 people are on an outpatient waiting list at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital , and that 4,889 of these people have been waiting up to a year on this list.”

Cllr Byrne continued: “The people of Louth and East Meath need and deserve quality healthcare. We want to make sure that people can access a GP or a dentist when they need one. We want to end the crisis in our emergency departments. We want to cut waiting lists. We want to deliver the biggest investment in the history of the state in mental health. Sinn Féin is committed to affordable - accessible healthcare.

“Many people understandably feel that this Government have thrown in the towel on health. I refuse to accept this situation – instead, I want to get elected to the Dáil and work to deliver the changes that Sinn Féin’s plan sets out for our Health services in Drogheda, Dundalk, Ardee and beyond.

Cllr Byrned concluded by saying: “You can read the full document on our website at https://health.sinnfein.ie/ and I would really encourage people to consider our proposals before the vote in the upcoming General Election.”