Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

We have provided such facilities. The senior official in charge of this process at the HSE has set up a task force which includes accident and emergency consultants, respiratory consultants and geriatricians — front-line staff who know the area well. They are also bringing forward proposals on the dignity issue. It is unacceptable and unnecessary that there are sanitary problems with regard to chairs and trolleys. In the past few years, some of the hospitals put forward proposals which were dealt with. In the hospital I know best, the Mater, a very good new accident and emergency unit opened in December, with 33 beds. There was chaos there last week because of the vomiting bug and the unit closed, so the burden fell back entirely on the old accident and emergency unit, which was designed for a different century. The new hospital at the Mater should have started at Christmas but because of the paediatric issue it has not yet started. Hopefully it will start when it is decided where to locate the paediatric unit. That is not the fault of the Government as we provided the money two or three years ago.

In Letterkenny an 11 bed unit will open this month, later in the year a 30 bed unit will open, in Wexford 19 beds will be opened this year and in Tallaght a 41 bed unit will be opened. In regard to capacity expansion the HSE is looking across the health service where there are other difficulties. I have mentioned the areas where there are problems. In all the other hospitals, for example, in the new unit in Cork, St. Vincent's Hospital, and Blanchardstown, huge progress has been made and there have been few complaints. Obviously that changes when the figures for flu and the vomiting bug increase.

Deputy Kenny asked what is the difference between now and a number of years ago. There is one difference between now and a number of years ago. The number of people of an older generation presenting at accident and emergency units is increasing. Obviously we have to deal with that. It is unsatisfactory that we do not have a general practitioner service after 5.30 p.m. That is forcing people——

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