James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I said the Government's health policy would be based on evidence based information. I challenge the Deputy to go to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation trolley count site and measure the results. The figures indicated have been agreed by the organisation and us. There is a dispute in one or two areas because, as happened today in particular, there was an alarming difference between our count and that of the organisation. It is being investigated. However, the figures this time last year were far greater. On the first Wednesday of the new year last year there were 569 patients lying on trolleys; this year there were approximately 325, which is still too many.

The Deputy asked whether a further reduction of €750 million in the health budget would help; of course, it would not. However, I can tell her - time has proved this - throwing money at the problem, in the way the previous Government did, would not fix it either without basic reforms. These reforms are now being introduced.

Last June and July we asked that no one be left waiting for longer than 12 months for an inpatient procedure. At the end of December 2010 there were 14,000 such patients. Our target was met everywhere, with just one exception, Galway, which is receiving special attention. The target this year will be a wait of nine months and I expect it to be met. I will offer my support in this regard.

In agreement with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, we examine an arbitrary figure at 8 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in order that we can predict what will occur the next day and take action to avoid problems experienced in the past. By the middle of this year, we will have moved to a six hour target. For 95% of patients, the time which should elapse between their arrival at an emergency department and discharge or admission is six hours. We want 100% of them to be discharged or admitted within nine hours. That would be real progress, but we have not succeeded absolutely; the 350 waiting on trolleys are 350 too many.

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