Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

We have had many reports from the former Minister for Health and Children but little action. Some 3,000 beds were promised in the health strategy. Will the Taoiseach tell us precisely how he intends to utilise the spare capacity in private nursing homes to deal with the phenomenon of patients retained in acute hospitals who ought not be there? Will the Government open the facilities which have been built but not commissioned? The Mater Hospital is short 60 nurses, four in accident and emergency alone. Will the Government do anything to assist recruitment? The public are looking for tangible, speedy, emergency measures as well as a longer-term solution to the problems that confront our community.

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