John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

During the summer I attended a presentation by GPs in Cork who said the percentage referral averages between 6% and 7%. I am sure that we can come up with an average cost per referral. If we had that, we could calculate how much money would be saved if referrals were reduced. Savings could be redirected towards general practitioners. Statistics would help us to make a strong financial case for investment in services that would reduce the number of hospital referrals. A 1% reduction in referrals amounts to 200,000 people.