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The crisis in public dentistry has continued to deepen under this government, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice made his comments after representatives from the Irish Dental Association (IDA), Department of Health and the HSE appeared before the Oireachtas Health Committee today. He said: “In 2019, the National Oral Health Policy, […]

Legislation and proactive resourcing is urgently required to tackle spiralling hospital waiting lists, which present a genuine threat to the health and wellbeing of thousands around the country, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “Almost 120,000 patients have been on a hospital waiting list for over a year – how […]

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide has expressed grave concern following the findings of an investigation into Bloomfield Hospital in south Dublin, which details serious incidents of mistreatment and abuse of residents. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health, said: “The findings contained in this report are deeply disturbing. Evidence that residents were […]

The government must extend the payment scheme for healthcare workers suffering from long Covid before it lapses on New Years Eve, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who chairs the Oireachtas Health Committee, said: “The special leave with pay scheme for healthcare workers with long COVID is going to end in […]

Appropriate healthcare services in the Mid-West cannot continue to be treated as an afterthought by government, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “Option C – the development of a Model 3 hospital with an emergency department in the Mid-West region – cannot be put on the long finger. “Another ED […]

The announcement that the National Gender Service’s waiting list is to close will leave the trans community with even fewer avenues for care, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice TD. Deputy Rice said: “The trans community continues to be utterly failed by the State – the National Gender Service is not fit for […]

Out-of-hours health services in the South East and North West are in grave danger of standstill due to strike action if the Minister for Health does not intervene quickly, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “Staff at Caredoc, a Section 39 healthcare provider operating in Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Wexford, […]

The Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025, which was published today, falls short of addressing the issues facing the home care sector, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “I welcome today’s announcement on home care regulation after years of false starts. Regulation of home care has been a Programme for […]

The CORU regulation process for counselling and psychotherapy must be immediately paused as it weakens professional standards and protections for the public, according to Social Democrats mental health spokesperson Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide said: “CORU, the State’s health regulator, has adopted a position that is entirely at odds with the main representative groups for counselling […]

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide, the party’s spokesperson on mental health and disability, has cautiously welcomed proposals by the HSE for a new 75-bed acute mental health service on the St Stephen’s Hospital campus in Glanmire. Deputy Quaide, who worked as a clinical psychologist in the North Cork mental health services from 2013 to 2021, […]