Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

Is the Minister saying it is not true that a total of 44% of patients in accident and emergency departments are awaiting admission and had to wait longer than the official maximum target period of 12 hours in the first two months of this year? This is what was in the report that went to the board of the HSE and either it is true or it is not true. If it is true, it is the Minister's responsibility.

What will the Minister do about the fact that so many people in acute beds, in the beds that the people in accident and emergency departments hope to occupy, are not able to leave those beds and go back into the community because of closure of respite beds? What will the Minister do about the overall problem, which is the great difficulties experienced by patients attending accident and emergency departments?

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