Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

I tabled the question because this topic will continue to crop up until an adequate structure is put in place. The inadequacy of the structure is clear from the continuing shortages we hear about in particular disciplines. Does the Minister believe the number of consultants is sufficient and the career path for medics is adequate to enable them to reach a point at which they are appointed consultants?

The Minister highlighted a number of issues related to Roscommon hospital. This week, I spoke to a person who is seeking admission to one of the large teaching hospitals. When I spoke to someone in the hospital in question I was informed that admissions, including serious cases, are being repeatedly rescheduled. When a resource is inadequate nationwide it has a knock-on effect. It is not a question of how quickly one can travel from one hospital to another. If the career path is not adequate and there are too few consultants, a logjam develops in the large hospitals and no one passes through the system.

See this speech in context