Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. McLoughlin and the other officials for their attendance. I wish Mr. Tony O'Brien well in his new post. I appreciate the efforts and the success in respect of delivering a more effective service for many patients and this undoubtedly is very difficult to do in the face of cutbacks. However, it is gratifying to see it and I hope it can continue. If I may, I will make one or two suggestions that might point towards further savings. More use might be got out of equipment that is handed out through hospitals. For example, when a patient leaves hospital using crutches, the HSE or the hospitals do not appear to be interested in getting them back. I believe there could be considerable savings if such issues were addressed. I have heard of a similar case in respect of special mattresses, which I understand cost approximately €7,000 each, and which then were discarded. Moreover, there are probably other examples of which I am not personally aware. Consequently, I wonder whether there is a strategy in place to get better value for money in respect of equipment.

The answer to a parliamentary question I tabled earlier this week revealed there is a non-payment rate of 25% in respect of the €100 charge at accident and emergency units. The witnesses might comment on this point and how a better outcome might be achieved.

Finally, if Dr. McLoughlin is in a position to so do, I would be interested in a comment on the Ogden report produced earlier this year-----