Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all the deputations. I offer my apologies in advance for leaving to go to the Chamber before the witnesses answer. I will watch the proceedings later.

Mr. Bolger said there was a drop in the number of people waiting. He said the figure is now at 78,000. The Department must admit that is still a shocking figure and needs to be worked on. Is there one thing that could solve this? Sometimes it is not all about funding. The answer may be along the lines of obtaining and retaining of staff. Let us imagine the deputations could pick one thing. What would solve it?

I am keen to hear the thoughts of the deputations on the outpatient service performance improvement programme. As we know, a validation officer rings patients on a list - sometimes the officer sends texts messages - and asks whether they are still interested in staying on the list. Some of my constituents have run into trouble with this. Some have said that since they have been living with the condition for so long, they might as well keep going. Another person was on holidays. Yet another was careless and the letter was left on a window, as could happen to any of us. I do not think it is a good system. Will the witnesses offer their thoughts, please?

I am keen to hear the views of the witnesses on putting more funding into local hospitals. We have a very good hospital in Bantry that could take the pressure off the larger hospitals in Cork if it was given more funding. At the moment we are trying to enhance the rehabilitation and endoscopy units there. What are the thoughts of the deputations on providing more funding for Bantry General Hospital and similar hospitals?

I agree with my colleague, Senator Colm Burke, with regard to the plans for a hospital in Cork. It was announced with great bells and whistles. Now, it seems to have died a death. I take the point made by Mr. Woods that a meeting is imminent. Will Mr. Woods keep the committee informed of any progress on the new hospital? Obviously, that is something I am most interested in as a Cork Deputy.