James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

No, not at all. I told the Deputy there would be a consultation process. There is a menu of approximately 24 different types of procedures that can be carried out safely at present. However, this is a dynamic situation and this list may be added to next year as things change, as medical procedures and surgical techniques improve and as more stuff will leave the bigger hospitals for the smaller hospitals. Moreover, more activities will leave the smaller hospitals to go back into primary care. It is all about treating the patient at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely, efficient and as close to home as possible.

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