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

My point is that with the turnover of staff in hospitals, especially in the training hospitals with junior staff in, I am not sure whether they have the required backup support in many cases as regards advice on this issue. One of the issues I have seen on a few occasions is where people have contacted me who have been unhappy about the way the matter was dealt with. I wonder about the structure, especially when there is that turnover of staff, either on a six-monthly, 12-monthly, or two-year basis. Fair enough, after 12 months someone would know the process, but what if he or she was new when something occurs?

Do we need to look at that as well as regards making sure the correct information is provided and the immediate family are aware of all the options that are available.

There is one other issue I want to touch on. We now have a huge number of people of different nationalities in the country and, in many cases, they do not have immediate family here in Ireland. That is an issue that we need to start planning for as well. It is already arising. I am wondering about the checks and balances in that scenario. It is something that will be a growing problem within our health service.