David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will make one further point on UHL, as I want to go on to the staffing complement for this year as well. I have visited the hospital twice and have met the full management team, which in fairness answered any question I put to them. They put it back on the political system, in that they need additional capacity. One problem - and Mr. Gloster identified it generally in healthcare - is an ageing demographic and an increase in demand in the hospital. Very often, the problem is what is happening outside the hospital if the alternative care pathways are not there, which adds further pressure on to emergency departments. One proposal I have made in previous committees is that we should look at the possibility of GPs working in emergency departments to better triage patients, to better manage the flow of patients coming into emergency departments. Is that something that could be considered in University Hospital Limerick?