Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

One of the problems in terms of productivity I have with the HSE currently is that I know of hospitals where, for example, because of lack of funding or overcrowding in accident and emergency they shut down elective surgery for long periods. It is not that the theatre goes away or that it and the staff who work there do not have to be paid for. Most of the costs are still inherent within the budgets for the health service, yet the services are closed down. That would not happen in a private enterprise. The private enterprise would be paid for the level of activity it provides. If we set up hospitals on the basis that they get paid for the level of consultations, treatments, operations and outputs they actually have on an annual basis, would that not ensure a closer tie between the investment and the productivity?