Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Every year 1.25 million people pass through accident and emergency units. Many hospitals which have accident and emergency units deal satisfactorily every day with emergency cases. In approximately six hospitals the numbers are consistently large. I have pointed out to the House on many occasions the type of actions being taken in accident and emergency units, including putting in large numbers of medical and nursing staff resources, capital and other facilities that will help.

There are several hospitals where problems are caused by the inadequate flow of patients from acute beds back home or elsewhere, and of those from accident and emergency units who need to be moved into beds. They cannot——

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