Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is only one other person left to come in, which is me. I will throw in my questions, although we normally take them in sets of three. The first question relates to the neuro-rehabilitation strategy. I would like an update on that and also information on whether the people who deliver the specialist community care can be included as part of the implementation group. That is not the overall umbrella group but rather people with direct experience of delivering that community care.

I have raised the matter of doctors getting paid for a qualification they do not have. I have done this repeatedly and there is probably a nicer way of putting it. It is entirely the fault of the HSE and the witnesses know as well as I do how contracts of indefinite duration work. It can leave things like this open. Nothing has been done to stop this from happening and I am definitely not convinced of the idea that people who are already busy and overstretched are now supposed to monitor their colleagues.

Will the Minister update us on the Comhliosta, the integrated hospital waiting list management system? Mr. O'Brien mentioned that 100 beds were purchased in private hospitals. This relates to the budget, and we all appreciate that peace has broken out between the parties here, whether or not it is normal to be otherwise. Was this purchase budgeted for at the beginning of the year or was that extra? Will it happen again? What is the cost per bed night? How was the decision made? Does it come directly from the hospital budget or is there a special emergency budget? Will the witnesses outline that?

The Minister referred to waiting lists and said nobody is taken from a list unless a clinical decision is made. My understanding is sometimes people are taken from those lists without a clinical decision being made. A letter or text message is sent asking if a person still wants the appointment. If the person cannot or does not reply - there can sometimes be very good reasons - the person is taken from the list. That would not be a clinical decision but one effectively made by an administrator.

With regard to early intervention, the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, mentioned the assessment of need. I have been informed that in the CRC the speech and language therapist, SLT, is on maternity leave, the occupational therapist has another job and has left, and the physio, likewise, is not around. Are there any plans to recruit these staff? How will they be replaced? Parents from all over the country, specifically, from my area, have presented themselves to the CRC only to be told that the wherewithal is not there to help them.

I refer to the use of PPS numbers as a unique identifier. My colleague, Senator Warfield, has written to the Minister in this regard. We understand that instructions have been issued to hospitals to use the PPS number and that it is necessary for PCRS reimbursement. When we discussed this here, we had a long conversation about how the PPS number could not be used because it did not have sufficient protections to protect the anonymity of the patient. The Minister might comment on that.

The issue of transvaginal mesh products has been raised with me. I was very disappointed, not with anyone in this room - they all will be delighted to know - but with the Taoiseach, who stated that he did not have an answer on the day because he had not been briefed about it. It is not the habit - of anyone in my party anyway and I do not know about others - to brief the Taoiseach on what is coming up on Leaders' Questions but it was the subject of a "Prime Time" programme the night before. I was surprised. I am aware that those who are suffering as a result of complications were very disappointed. I note that Deputy O'Connell had also raised this issue as have others. It is very concerning.

My last issue relates to a letter the Minister sent me. It is in regard to the Minister examining the possible extension of the reimbursement scheme for those who are living donors. I want to put on the record that I welcome that letter. We are hopeful of a positive outcome for a very small number of people, but people who give something unique and good. The Minister might expand on that a little.

There is a significant number of questions but health is a very important issue.