Social Democrats Public Meeting Health Services and The Cost of Living

The Left Bank Seminar Cork

Date: Saturday 22nd of October 2022

Time: 11.00- 14.30

Venue: Metropole Hotel, Mac Curtain Street, Cork

Session 1 11.00-12.25

Topic: Current challenges to our Health Services

Our panel will discuss

• How the increased privatisation of health services impacts equality of access

• The challenges that creeping privatisation creates in relation to the protection of employment standards

• The pressures that staff working in the public health service face from burnout, stress, and under resourcing

• The impact of the non-implementation of Slaintecare on the delivery of care to patients and service users

• The ongoing underfunding of disability and mental health services

Chairperson: Roisin Shortall, TD

Speakers:

● Eamon Donnelly, Deputy General Secretary, Forsa

● Dr. Angela Flynn, School of Nursing & Midwifery, University College Cork

● Dr. Patrick Bracken

● Rebecca O’Riordan, Chairperson, Families United for Support and Services (FUSS)

Session 2 12.30-14.00

Topic: Cost of Living crisis

Our panel will discuss

• The escalating costs of energy and food and the real choices that people are faced with between food and heat

• An assessment of the measures taken by Government to alleviate the burden on working people

• The macroeconomic factors driving escalating inflation and outlook for the short to medium term

• The particular effects of inflation on marginalised groups in society

Chairperson: Ciaran Mc Carthy, Barrister

Speakers:

• Holly Cairns, TD

• Tom Mc Donnell, Nevin Economic Research Institution (NERI)

• Don O’Leary, Director Cork Life Centre

• Elizabeth Mc Grath, Cork Traveller Visibility Group

• Fiona Dukelow, UCC