Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I am moving in as close as I can. I thank Professor Pollock for her presentation. I would like to ask three questions. It has been suggested that there should be a shift in the Irish health service towards the establishment and strengthening of a model of hospital trusts. These trusts would have the power to raise their own finances independently and to outsource services from the private sector. I understand this has been a feature of the health system in the UK in recent years. I wonder if Professor Pollock can tell us whether it has been a good or bad experience. What has actually happened? Professor Pollock has argued that systems which are based on private health care are more expensive. Can she explain why she thinks that is the case? Is it fundamentally a case of profiteering or of wastage that might be associated with duplication or markets? Could Professor Pollock break down some of the information on that issue? In her book NHS plc: The Privatisation of Our Health Care, Professor Pollock argues that universal health care systems are superior to systems that target services and health care provision. Can she explain why she thinks that even though targeting of services and provision sounds fair, it often does not seem to work out that way?