James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

Unfortunately, this considerable attention is not helping patients. In Beaumont Hospital, even with the fair deal scheme, the Minister freed up 30 odd beds but closed 52 beds making the situation worse. I do not accept the Minister's contention that there are health and safety reasons for not having a cabin full of trolleys. The real reason is that if those trolleys were made available, ambulances would be out bringing in more patients and there would be even more crowding in accident and emergency departments.

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