Fidelma on health:
Fidelma worked in the area of health promotion in school and community settings with the MWHB and MHB (1994-2000). Was a principal writer and joint editor for the primary education resource ‘Bi Follain, a programme of social and health education’
According to Fidelma
‘Health is a resource for living. Without it the person has no quality of life. As well as taking individual responsibility for one’s health, I believe it is the duty of the government to facilitate the health of the nation and to provide for a healthy safe environment’.
While promoting prevention and personal responsibility for one’s health, I believe that a nation should provide a quality, accessible health service for all its citizens. This hasn’t happened in Ireland. We have a two-tier health system of public and private which has been difficult to access and difficult to afford, and sadly has failed many patients. It is time we had a system that provides for Universal health care. Fine Gael’s Fair Care is the way forward.
Fidelma’s main health priorities are:
- Good primary health care system with community-based primary care centres. Fidelma has been working with the HSE and has long lobbied for a primary health care centre for Oranmore, serving the Oranmore area and the Eastern side of Galway city. The HSE has accepted that there is a strong business case for Oranmore as a location.
- Centres of Excellence for Cancer Care
- Breastcheck roll-out nationally – successfully participated in campaign that achieved Breastcheck for Galway. NBCRI is Fidelma’s charity of choice.
- Bowel Cancer Screening
- Respect for Older people in treatment and care services
- Mental Health services in community and hospital settings
- Promotion of Physical Exercise at all stages of life
- A functioning Pharmacy system
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