James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Regina Doherty's questions were aimed mainly at Mr. O'Brien and concerned reduced staff numbers and the figure of €174 million.

Senator John Crown talked about the low number of obstetricians. We must examine the model of care in this regard and whether pressure could be relieved in the delivery of babies of young mothers in hospitals if we looked outside the box a little more and supported midwife-led and delivered services.

Nobody present could possibly suggest the tragedy that occurred in Galway could be excused on the basis of staffing levels; there is no question about this. A basic point with which I am sure Senator John Crown will concur is that if a doctor orders a test, he or she does so because it will alter his or her management of the patient. One's first duty of care must be to get the result of the test to see whether it will alter the management of the patient. I do not want to get into specifics in that regard. There have been three reports on the tragedy and, at this time of the year, our thoughts should be with Savita’s husband and family.

Let us consider the issue of patients awaiting access to outpatient services. I will certainly examine the contention that letters are left in limbo until there is a response given and that there is manipulation which would not be acceptable to me. I am not interested in perception but in reality. That is why we counted the number on the outpatients waiting list which no other Government wanted to touch. We want to address this issue in a realistic way and support those who work in the health service to do so. That is what is being done. It is on the basis of the same principle that we have used in providing inpatient treatment. Once the cancer and urgent cases have been dealt with, people who wait the longest should be seen first. Doing so is equitable and fair.

I believe Deputy Ciara Conway was alluding to the Ogden report, which we commissioned.