David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. McNamara for that.

I just want to come back to the issue of hospital capacity because Mr. Gilligan spoke about a range of issues in this regard that are causing problems in emergency departments. It is very frustrating for me when I hear Government representatives asking what the problems are in Limerick. I heard this again a few minutes ago. We have been told time and again what the problems are. It is not rocket science and we know what needs to be done. I hear the Minister trying to shift the responsibility back onto staff, consultants, management or whoever else he feels is to blame. The simple reality, which we were told as Oireachtas committee members when we visited UHL, is that every single day there are patients deemed sick enough to be admitted to a bed but for whom there is none. I would imagine this occurs not only in Limerick but also in every acute hospital. The circumstances are particularly difficult at the moment in Limerick. You cannot blame anybody else for what is happening. The blame has to be accepted by the political system, by those in charge or by the Government for not putting the beds in place. Dr. Gilligan is right. I have been in every hospital in the State but I have been in Limerick on four occasions. When I was in Limerick, I listened to consultants, doctors, nurses, radiographers and everybody I could possibly meet. I also listened to healthcare trade union representatives and anybody and everybody who would talk to me. They all say we need more beds and that while patient flow needs to be improved, you have to put in the diagnostic capacity and all the ancillary supports. You cannot just hire consultants if there is an embargo. All the support staff, radiographers and junior doctors are subject to an embargo. How does that make any sense? The issues of step-down and recovery beds and community care are all part of the solution. It is really frustrating for me, although I would say it is even more frustrating for people who live in the mid-west, when Government representatives ask what needs to be done when it has been clear for a long time. I want to ask one question on this. A problem has been reported to me but I am not sure how prevalent it is. Are the delegates aware of instances in which patients have had their entire treatment experience on a hospital trolley?