Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

We have a responsibility to make sure we do not continue with a status quo that does not give patients a chance to enjoy the best possible outcomes, particularly in respect of surgical procedures. By international standards, we have enough people with specialist knowledge in anaesthetics and surgery to deliver emergency surgery in the mid-west region. There are more than 400 hospital doctors and more than 1,400 nurses in the region. We cannot deliver the best service there if it is fragmented across four hospitals. Just 28 surgical procedures took place at Ennis General Hospital during the night over a six-month period. The relevant figure in Nenagh General Hospital was 12 and in St. John's Hospital was 21. Between the three hospitals, there were 60 surgical procedures during the night over the six months in question. We all know that doctors' skills cannot be maintained, and good patient outcomes cannot be delivered, if there is low-volume activity in high-volume specialties. I do not say that merely on the basis of evidence from Ireland. What we are seeking to do in Ireland is being put into practice in virtually every country in the world that I have examined. I have spoken to my ministerial colleagues across Europe, who took these steps many years ago. It has also been done in Northern Ireland.

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