Sinn Féin Councillor Seán Crowe has called for the full implementation
of the Hayes Report on the delays in processing x-rays and GP referral
letters in Tallaght Hospital.

Councillor Crowe welcomed the report today but said the threatened €1
billion cuts to the HSE budget will lead to more problems at the
hospital.

Councillor Crowe said:

“I welcome the Hayes Report on Tallaght Hospital and call for its full
implementation. Tallaght is a fine hospital and its staff and patients
deserve full support.

“I warned more than two years ago that there was a shortage of
radiologists at Tallaght but my calls fell on deaf ears.  Then at the
time of the crisis the Department of Health had the nerve to say that
they were unaware of a problem.

“The report vindicates the problems I raised at the time.  It shows that
there were staffing shortages in the radiology department and delays by
the HSE in approving essential posts. Proper systems were not in place
to manage GP referrals and patients faced undue delays, on top of the
general waiting list faced by all patients.

“Worryingly, it has been reported that 7million x-rays were audited in
preparation for this report indicating that this problem may not have
been confined to Tallaght Hosptial.

“While the issues at Tallaght are being addressed the Fianna Fáil/Green
Government’s threatened €1 billion cuts to the HSE in the 2011 Budget
will lead to similar situations here and elsewhere.

“Administration and filing may be more efficient but, with inadequate
staff numbers to follow up on x-rays and GP referrals, patients will
experience ever longer waiting lists for treatment.