James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

To answer the latter question first, the review relates to the provision of the new hospital at the Mater Hospital. I do not think it will include the present situation at Tallaght Hospital. With regard to adult services, I am loth to give an answer to the question without having studied the situation. There may be a bed capacity issue, however there are also managerial issues at Tallaght Hospital which must be addressed and this is what is being examined at present. As in several of our major hospitals, issues arise on how discharges happen, how patients are assessed, how long patients are in hospital before their procedures are carried out and how long they remain in hospital after the procedure has been carried out. There is a host of issues around this. I will leave the door open on this as I do not have the answer for the Deputy on whether the problem in Tallaght Hospital has to do with bed capacity or use of the beds, or issues to do with management, as I know issues arise with regard to this.

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