Mr. Bernard Gloster:

There is not really a precedent for that type of intervention. There might be a precedent for an individual doctor who is willing to assist in a particular challenge. In fairness, specialists do come to help with different things.

I appreciate Limerick has been very much in the news and to the fore. With Dr. Henry and other colleagues, I have been dealing with trolleys seven days a week since the middle of December right up to and including last week. While Limerick is very visible in the headlines, there are also other hospitals under significant pressure, including Galway University Hospital and Cork University Hospital. We would simply be taking the pressure off one to try to help with the pressure on another, and it could have unintended consequences. There is not that scale of an option available to us.

I agree wholeheartedly with the Senator’s call. I have no fear in publicly putting on record that I would urge consultants in the UL Hospitals Group in Limerick to seriously revisit any decision around taking up the new contract.