Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I urge the Minister to take on board the arguments of the INMO, to give them serious consideration and to view them in a positive light.

I want to take this opportunity to flesh out our view on the role of small and medium-sized public hospitals. We reject the policy of centralisation of public hospitals. Centralisation provides a fig leaf for cutting public hospital services. We believe that, given the highly dispersed nature of our population, small and medium sized public hospitals must continue to provide the maximum possible range of services for their communities. In ensuring that second-level care is provided at the most local level, we have called for the development of funding mechanisms designed to address geographic inequality in public hospitals; the retention and development of acute or emergency services in second-level public hospitals; the provision of cancer care on a truly nationwide basis, with access to radiation oncology and other cancer services in all the regions; and the deployment of medical staff and configuration of medical training in a way that facilitates the continuation of services to patients. All of this is achievable.

Let us be very clear on this. The bottom line for the deployment of hospital services, the configuration of medical staffing and the organisation of professional training and registration must be the best interests of patients. That must always come first, before the vested interests of training colleges and professional bodies.

This Bill is a stop gap measure. It is not real reform. It is an expedient. For that reason, and to help ensure the safe and successful roll-out of its intent, we are calling for the implementation of this Act to be under review from day one. I urge the Minister to accept my amendment on Committee Stage. I trust the Minister and those acting on his behalf are successful and I wish success to his exercise in recruiting the full complement of NCHDs required to maintain the continuation of all of the accident and emergency services we need. I conclude by putting on record Sinn Féin's decision to support the passage of this Bill through all Stages today, for the reasons already stated.

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