Mr. Liam Woods:

Regarding the reference to outpatient departments, non-attendance at emergency departments, EDs, and the use of texting, we have held sessions ourselves to seek to ensure that good practice in some locations is used more widely. We ran a session in Mary Immaculate College in Limerick on this in the not too distant past. We are focused on getting good practice in place in order that we have optimal pickup and that patients have an opportunity both to be aware that their appointments are coming and to notify the relevant party if they have difficulties with the appointments. The use of texting is partial, not universal, and needs to roll out more fully. I accept that in this day and age we could and should look to do it more completely. The wider point about learning is one on which we are very focused because we have very good practice in sites around the country.

Senator Burke referred to gynaecology in Cork and nationally. We have asked all hospital groups to put forward proposals as part of the work with the NTPF this year for undertaking work both within their own facilities and where they do not have capacity outside in the private environment. This would include gynaecology in Cork. A commitment was made last year to undertake work, as I recall, in gynaecology in Cork. I might offer to bring the Senator back a specific report on volumes in Cork and what is intended this year, but that was open to submission from the group, and I recall it has made proposals in the current year. On the specific reference to Cork University Hospital and perhaps CAMHS, I might ask my colleague, Mr. Bernard Gloster, to address the Senator. The Senator referred to an individual case.