Tell the politicians the public services have to be protected

The shockwaves of Ireland's age of austerity continued to reverberate through communities and families throughout County Cavan this week, as news broke of the greatly reduced North East Doctor on Call (NEDOC) service. The new economic climate has already bruised or battered the bank accounts of almost every household in Cavan, but the suffering of individuals are being compounded by cuts to essential public services. Health accounts for an enormous proportion of the budget, so it would seem that only the most politically naive, or cynical, could suggest that the nation's books can be balanced without at least lifting the surgeon's scalpel, if not wielding a saw more adept for amputations, to the service. However political parties of all hues propose to make savings in the provision of health care without savaging frontline services. Few would believe that the strain on the public purse hasn't already been felt at the coal face of healthcare provision. Although a source of disappointment, the cutbacks to the NEDOC service is unlikely to surprise the average newspaper reader, grown weary of stories reporting emergency department closures and outlandish numbers of patients on trolleys. What is of concern is that the NEDOC service, so highly regarded by the public, should feature so lowly on the executive's totem pole, that it is amongst the first to feel the pain. And particularly concerning when you consider the far-reaching implications from the reductions. The NEDOC man hours for this area have been reduced from 28 hours per day to just five. Furthermore by cutting two doctors to the bare minimum, and expect him/her to cover an area encompassing the lion's share of four counties, it is unavoidable that much of the doctor's time will be wasted behind the wheel of a car accumulating petrol expenses. Furthermore the potential waiting time for the patient is significantly lengthened. Under the arrangements, which are due to come into effect shortly, it is feasible that a mother in an isolated area of rural West Cavan, fretting over the condition of her sick child may have to wait hours while the sole doctor on call that night finishes tending to a patient over a hundred kilometres away in the southern reaches of County Meath. Will the doctor even be able to make the journey before their new clocking off time of 11pm, as oppose to 8am. This decision which has been greeted with dismay and anger in equal measure amongst politicians and doctors with one Bailieborough GP fuming that it is regressing health care to state it was in the 1980s. However the cut hasn't taken effect yet, and with politicians continuing to knock on Cavan doors in coming days it is incumbent on all voters who value the NEDOC to challenge the candidates on this issue. Any candidates who claim that they will oppose or halt the reduction, insist that you secure their pledge in writing before they leave and then contact The Anglo-Celt if they later renege. However considering that Ireland has only embarked on the task of addressing our crippling national debt, does any voter have any confidence that where they place their X on February 25 will protect the most crucial of public services in future budgets?