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

The witnesses are all welcome and I thank them for coming before the committee. They all spoke about the recruitment and retention of medical staff. Bright people are entering the medical field in all specialties and many of them are emigrating. Ms Ní Sheaghdha said that many of our more experienced medics are travelling abroad, which is probably a new phenomenon. The newly qualified people tended to go abroad but it is quite worrying that we losing experienced people. They are being treated better abroad and they also receive continuous training there. The recruitment of people is straightforward but will the witnesses comment on what they believe can be done to retain people?

I would also like their opinion on the funding of local general hospitals. We have a good hospital in west Cork, Bantry General Hospital. If it was allocated more funding, it could assist the larger hospitals in Cork city. We are currently trying to enhance its rehabilitation and endoscopy units. If it was given a small allocation, it would certainly ease the pressure on the bigger hospitals and it would also assist the local people in that they would not have to travel quite a long journey to Cork city. I would welcome the witnesses comments on that point.

Are there any plans to broaden the Voluntary Health Insurance, VHI, incentive to home-fund step-down services, or are there any other community initiatives that would free up beds? Do the witnesses believe that the Minister for Health is acting in good faith in the formulation of a new GP contract, which he promised to deliver before the end of this year? As we are now more than half way through 2018, do they believe he is acting in good faith?

Do the witnesses believe that incidence of people not showing up for appointments is slowing the system down? How can that be addressed?

Who makes the decisions in emergency departments at night on whether patients need to be kept in or sent home? Should this system be different or could it be different? Do the witnesses believe their members hands are often tied due to worries about legal issues or implications?