Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

By investing in hospitals, and staff and technologies, time will be freed up so that more people can be treated. There is then a positive domino effect, where people are being treated earlier, quicker and are freeing up more space for people to come in. I also want to note Ms Morrogh's point relating to the message. When they saw the crisis in the hospitals, most people with an ache or problem they did not think was serious felt they were doing the right thing by not going. They know the staff are under pressure. They know the hospitals are full. They know the trolleys are everywhere. People are telling themselves they had better not add to it. However, Ms Morrogh is saying that because of that delay they will be adding to it and making it worse down the line, when they finally go in two, four, or eight weeks' time.