David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We know that there is a need for an additional 87 beds and 38 additional consultants and we may need to start planning for more surgical theatre capacity. Diagnostics are okay, but I imagine that, as in any hospital, an increase in capacity in that regard would benefit the increased bed capacity. If all of that were put in place, is Professor Cowan confident that the group could turn around the waiting times in emergency departments as well as the overall waiting times? I am looking at the inpatient and outpatient waiting lists across the group. It stands at just over 50,000, which is high compared with other groups. Is the management team confident that, if the requested capacity that Professor Cowan spoke about was put in place, it would address the problems and reduce waiting times? I will address other issues in a moment.