Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have some general and specific questions, and I will try to be brief. With regard to recruitment plans, it is fair to say that whatever the witnesses are doing at present is not working and it is reasonable to ask them what they plan to do in the future. Clearly, one cannot run a health service without staff. It is a serious problem.

Regarding bed capacity, to what extent do the problems relate to physical capacity, that is, physical beds and bed space, as opposed to staffing problems? If the staffing problem was solved in the morning how many beds could we put back into the system?

There is much talk in this committee and elsewhere about primary care. Clearly, there is a blockage in that area. In particular, I wish to hear the views of the CEOs on what causes that blockage in the patient journey. Is it to do with staff or lack of capacity in primary care, or is it related to systems?

I have specific questions for the representatives of the Saolta group. Sligo, Letterkenny and Portiuncula hospitals were consistently among the top four hospitals during 2013, 2014 and 2015 that were the highest spenders on private ambulance services. People know my views on private health care and the poor value for money it represents. Why does that happen and are there any plans to phase it out?

Dr. Nash mentioned a significant IT investment in his presentation. How much is that and how many years are involved? What is it hoped to achieve?

The RCSI mentions targets in its presentation. If it does not hit those targets, what services will it cut first and how will it select them?

I have a question for Ms Cowen on the UL group. I am very familiar with that group, as she is aware. Morale among the staff in the group is at an all-time low. She will be aware of that too. To what extent are there specific plans regarding accident and emergency services in the UL group? It is constantly in the headlines. I am sure that does not please Ms Cowen, no more than it pleases the poor people waiting. What will be done in the short term in that regard? She also mentioned that liaising with GPs is one of her top priorities. Perhaps she would expand on that and give the committee an insight into what the group does in terms of how that liaison works and whether there are plans to expand on it.