Fianna Fáil Health Spokesperson Stephen Donnelly has called on Fine Gael candidate James Reilly to explain if his campaign for a private hospital in North County Dublin represents Fine Gael policy.
Deputy Donnnelly commented, “It is astounding to see James Reilly saying that this private facility will be great news for public patients because they will be able to access it through the NTPF – the same NTPF that he himself abolished as Health Minister.
“I am calling on James Reilly to come clean with the people of Fingal. Does his support for this private venture represent Fine Gael policy? Is his party aware that he is championing a private development over the Primary Care Centre he promised for Swords eight years ago, when he was Health Minister? Is it Fine Gael policy to champion private health facilities over the equal access to quality health services promised in Sláintecare?
“The Fingal area has a rapidly expanding population and is in desperate need of quality public health facilities that are accessible to everyone. The very first thing that Swords needs is a fully-resourced Primary Care Centre that will provide GP, nurse, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychology services to adults and children across North County Dublin.
“It is frankly insulting to the people of Fingal to tell them that a private facility solve the crisis in local health services. James Reilly was Health Minister for three years, during which time he announced a much-needed new Primary Care Centre in Swords. That was in 2012. Eight years later, the people of Swords are still waiting.
“He seems to have now scrapped the idea and is campaigning solely on private medicine. Voters need to understand if this approach is representative of Fine Gael policy? Fine Gael publicly claims support for Sláintecare, so why is one of its most high-profile candidates, and a former Minister of Health, championing private health facilities as the answer?”