Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, but obviously a hospital has to operate within its budget and the manager needs to decide how best to use the resources, namely, the theatres, consultants and surgeons. We have shown a real willingness through the NTPF to provide additional resources to public hospitals that have put up their hand and said they could do more, particularly in the orthopaedic area for hip and knee replacements, ophthalmology and scoliosis. I expect they will be a priority for 2018. The public hospitals that believe they can do more but feel they have been curtailed in the past by resources should engage through their hospital group with the NTPF.