James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I really do appreciate that.

With regard to new plans for reconfiguration, we will reconsider the overall picture in terms of re-structuring the health service to deliver for patients in a timely fashion as near to their homes as possible, and also in a far more sensible fashion for us. The idea that somebody would go to a tertiary hospital such as Beaumont or the Mater for treatment for varicose veins, gall bladder surgery or hernia repair is akin to taking a ten-year-old Volkswagen to the Ferrari testing centre for a service. The latter would surely do a wonderful job but it would not comprise an appropriate use of resources. If people avail of the services of the county hospitals for the procedures in question, not alone will they be very pleased with the outcome, they will find their overall experience far more pleasant in that they will be away from the hustle and bustle and chaotic atmospheres of the larger hospitals. We will seek to address the latter issue because, in fairness to the larger hospitals, they are trying to do the impossible, very often with limited resources. I have no problem putting that on the record and seeking further rationalisation of our resources in respect of the sorts of conditions we treat. I refer to the number of people who end up in hospitals for treatment that could possibly take place in a primary care environment.

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