Brian Higgins

We are a tiny, wealthy country and should have one of the best health systems on the globe. I believe, to my core, that the greatest problem with the Irish healthcare system is its politicization. There is just no room for political gaming in healthcare.

This is a great point. Care and delivery of care needs to be patient focused.

I would argue that beds and facilities are less important than staff. Having enough doctors, physios, nurses etc with enough capacity to intervene in disease processes early keeps people out of hospital. Our staffing shortfalls are likely increasing our need for beds. Staff no1

I’ve just muted Musk and Trump. Don’t follow either but both taking up an inordinate amount of space on my feed. The absence of negativity is much more powerful than trying to add more positivity. Here’s to hopefully a, slightly, more pleasant experience on twitter /X

It is a terrible situation to require medical care and not be able to access it. Unfortunately, there seems to be more political interest in flogging the medics trying to deliver more to increase workload to unsafe levels than sensible, sustainable resolutions to the issue.

@Joanchristinema @roinnslainte I don’t know if it’s lazy or just a lack of understanding of what HCAs do. Norm is what we see, maybe it’s more a reflection of thinking what goes on in the Dail is what happens everywhere… Either way - can’t understand the game plan

@DrBrianHiggins This anti doctor ethos comes from R Watt and @roinnslainte in my opinion...lazy and chip on shoulder comes to mind

I wonder what a healthcare minister, who actually gets healthcare workers on side and cares about improving morale, would look like. Healthcare requires teamwork; a football manager who tells everyone their players are shit / lazy will always loose the team.

Say what you want... Sometimes, medicine is just awesome.

I was today years old when I discovered that the @TescoIrl Clubcard App has vouchers… 🤦

@anfearmor11 I don't understand. How do you staff it like hospitality if you don't fund it like hospitality? Genuinely, what would you suggest? How do you maintain good accessability and high quality in a "free" service as demand increases?

@DrBrianHiggins Nope. Just have it staffed like hospitality. Most people pay 0 for health care

"Just 10%" Is there any other profession that goes to Uni for 6 years, trains for atleast another 10years and 10% of whom working on a bank holiday would not be considered an unusually high number? Doctors are people too. We have families we want to see. thejournal.ie/just-10-of-hos…

@GerryBridgett @MartinJFarrell3 Well, farmers are absolute legends without whom we'd all starve to death. Genuinely believe it is one of, if not the most, important careers out there.

@MartinJFarrell3 @DrBrianHiggins Farmers work 7 days a week with no weekends off and don't complain

@PowerMumbo Why do you think that many GPs work part time and that many GPs working full-time burn out and leave clinical medicine? People are now “lucky” to have a GP they can access and that’s wrong but don’t go blaming the GP seeing patients. Blame the people who created this mess.

@DrBrianHiggins Many GP s are working part time. Hard to get to see one ! This is not right.

@YeatsCountyInn @alxwlsdn I work like a dog monday to friday. If that is not enough, fine but I do not know how the HSE will find someone who will work like me midweek and keep doing it on the weekends, bank holidays and through the night. Good luck to them.

@YeatsCountyInn @alxwlsdn I also don't disagree with you re ensuring that urgent care should be the same 7/7 I don't think that elective care is needed 7/7. AS a GP, I don't want to be doing diabetes checks at 7am Sunday morning. If it became I requirement, I'd find a new job for the sake of my family.

@MartinJFarrell3 Ah, you are taking me up wrong. I am "giving out" that the minister appears to be blaming the trolley crisis due to "only" 10% of consultants being in the hospital on a bank holiday which is 1. Demoralising for staff 2. Completely incorrect nonsense

@DrBrianHiggins Your tweet is literally giving out because they had to work Bank holidays.

@YeatsCountyInn @alxwlsdn I don't disagree with you. Elective care operates Mon-Fri for the mostpart Emergent care runs 24/7 - someone with a burst appendix, heart attack or stroke that comes in any day, is sorted that day. Does anyone really want grandad getting his cataract done on christmas day?

@DrBrianHiggins @alxwlsdn Doctor's deserve work life balance, but current health care system operates on a Monday to Friday 9-5 basis (in general), there is a gap there to bridge between the two positions that other industries work via staff rotas etc. Health is 24/7/365 & needs same care at weekends

@Jack52127243 I don't think your statement about what consultants work is correct but I do agree that the state has a responsibility to spend tax money efficiently which I am sad to say I don't think is often the case.

@DrBrianHiggins We taxpayers can’t fund a health service that allows you to work 5 days a week and 40%of that in private work

@MartinJFarrell3 Where did I say that consultants shouldn't work at weekend?

@DrBrianHiggins In my profession I trained for 5 years and I work a set shift pattern, no matter bank holidays, Christmas etc. Stop looking for sympathy. Oh no won't someone think of the poor Consultants.

@anfearmor11 Cool. The avg. hotel room price in Ireland has increased 27% in the past 5 years. There is a supply and demand in hospitality & hotels are much more expensive at weekends. Do you think people should pay for healthcare and that prices fluctuate with demand to maintain capacity?

@DrBrianHiggins I think that health should be like hospitality. No such thing as weekend.