Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their impressive presentation. Reference was made to the importance of direct GP access to different hospital services. How is that different from what is happening in other areas? We are all familiar with constituents contacting us where there is an 18-month waiting list to see a specialist. We refer them back to the GP and get him or her to seek access and to prioritise the case if it is urgent. GPs in the Dublin area feel there is no point in doing that or they try and it does not make any difference. What is different about this model? Are improved resources available through the hospital? What speeds the process up and reduces the waiting lists? How is Carlow-Kilkenny different from other acute hospitals?

Dr. Fawsitt said it is important that we move forward with this model while making sure it is fully planned and costed with buy-in from everybody involved. To what extent has he done that planning work and phasing of the transfer of care? Is a model in place that could be adapted in other areas? Is much information available on costing?

My third questions relates to HSE structures. The committee is concerned that with the six hospitals groups and the nine CHOs, there is a mismatch between those areas and they are not aligned. Is that a factor for Carlow-Kilkenny in terms of boundaries? Is it an issue that GPs may send some of their local patients to a hospital group outside the Ireland east group?