Underfunding of local health services slammed by Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin local election candidate in Tullamore , Aoife Masterson, has claimed that the government’s shameful underfunding of health in Budget 2024 will have "a catastrophic effect on services" in Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore.

Speaking ahead of a Sinn Féin motion calling for the underfunding to be reversed, she added that the government must step back from the brink and provide proper resources to keep our health services working.

Ms Masterson said services in Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore are already stretched to their limit, and her party's motion will call on the government to provide proper funding to keep the health service working.

"Offaly TD's need to stand up and listen to those who elected them to represent them and support our call for the Government to reverse the shameful underfunding" she said "the consequences if they fail to do so will be felt widely across all services. The crisis in Emergency Departments will deepen and patients will continue to languish on trolleys."

Ms. Masterson also predicted setbacks across mental health, disabilities, and in key clinical strategies such as cancer, cardiovascular and maternity care, and said there will be "no new money" for patients in need of new medicines which become available next year.

“Underfunding of these vital services will mean that people will continue to wait too long for – and go without – the assessments and therapies they need, that young people with disabilities will remain inappropriately placed in nursing homes, and that carers will continue to burn out without respite" she said.