Brenda Hartnett

You know, that was totally disregarded.

Because I suppose that's the kind of data that the HSE have always looked for.

So it's simply, you know, they talk about performance indicators, but they're not.

It's never about the quality of the work you're doing or the quality or the calibre of the services you're offering.

If all we look at is waiting list data, things aren't going to change.

And unfortunately...

A lot of the people in the senior managerial and administrative roles, they have never spoken with the patient.

So all of the complaints about the service come to the therapy, nursing and medical managers.

They don't come to senior management.

So there's a lack of accountability around that.

Well, it was just shocking because we, as the therapy managers and the clinicians, we were often dealing with parents who were suicidal because they knew their children's life outcomes were being compromised by the lack of services.

or their inability to access services.

You know, and as clinicians, we know we have the skills to make a difference.

And it's just, it feels off, you know, it's amoral, it's unethical to be almost prevented from doing that.

Well, I mean, all the time, you know.

And, you know, that became... I mean, I spoke for parents of children, you know, with an obvious disability.

They begin to take on the language of a war and we have to fight.

You know, their right to health care, to adequate, high-quality health care...

It's a human right.

It's not a privilege.