Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

The Minister tells us she will not reopen closed hospital wards or bring acute beds back into service because there is not enough money to do so. Does she regard additional beds as essential in view of the numbers - 569 nationwide the other morning - on trolleys, with 50 alone in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda? If not, why not? Does she regard herself as having a duty of care to patients in accident and emergency units? I heard a graphic account on local radio the other day of people with blood running out of them sitting in the accident and emergency department waiting for treatment.

Does the Minister see herself as having a responsibility to manage with some degree of comprehension the system for which she has ministerial responsibility? Does she accept that money can be found for banks because we are told it is essential? This is brought up in the context of almost every issue but what could be more important than caring for people in acute situations who are having to wait 13, 14 or 15 hours on plastic chairs? Does the Minister accept that her attitude in this regard is nothing short of Thatcherite, that she is simply walking over these patients and that it is completely unacceptable? Does she see herself as having responsibility in this matter?

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