Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone for their presentations this morning and for dealing with many difficulties over recent months, especially in dealing with the cyberattack. I will touch briefly on the maternity issue because confusing messages are going out to people. Mr. Reid said 16 of the 19 units were following the guidelines on admission or the attendance of partners. Is it possible for those 16 units to set that out in writing individually rather than it coming as a general statement from the HSE or Mr. Reid?

Can they be asked to set out the procedures in writing? I am getting feedback from different units around the country that different sets of rules are being applied compared with what we are being told publicly. I spoke to a medical person in recent days who had seen four patients where their respective partners are already vaccinated so there should not be any reason they could not be admitted. Can that issue be clarified? Can the 16 units which are following the overall guidelines issue a statement to that effect individually?

The cyberattack has resulted in a huge build-up of waiting lists for surgery and for many procedures. Is it possible to expand the treatment purchase fund to deal with the backlog? For instance, yesterday I heard of someone being advised to go to Northern Ireland for a hip operation although the same facilities are available in a private hospital in Cork within 30 miles of where they live. It may not be available in a public hospital because of the priorities that they are giving. What is being proposed to deal with that waiting list and trying to reduce the numbers waiting?