INMO Meets with Oireachtas Committee (1) Patricia King,General Secretary, ICTU - opening statement

 

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) is met the Special Oireachtas Committee on the future of healthcare today, Wednesday, October 26 at 11.30a.m. In both its written submission and opening statement the INMO is calling for a radical transformation, of our current two tiered health system, so that it is single tiered, guaranteeing equality of treatment to all and funded through general progressive taxation. In its statements the INMO has made a number of points including: The transition, to a single tiered service, would take up to 10 to 15 years; The health service should receive guaranteed public, direct, funding of a minimum of 10% of GDP and between 12 – 14 % during the period of transition; The organisational structure, for the new public health service, should be flattened with autonomy and accountability, for expenditure, devolved to front-line managers; All health service staff should be directly employed including consultants and general practitioners (current contracts should be honoured but all new contracts involving direct public employment only); and, Greatly expanded roles for nurses/midwives, and other health professionals, including direct/cross referrals and nurse/midwife prescribing across all areas of the health service. The INMO believes that a properly resourced public health service, which treats all citizens equally with access not related to ability to pay, is a powerful social good enhancing the well-being of all citizens and acting as a powerful foundation for a growing economy.