Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I note the Minister now has given assurances twice to his junior ministerial colleagues that he will be consulting them on issues and, at the outset of 2012, I am sure this will be a highly welcome development both on their parts and those of all Members.

The Minister should make no mistake but that hospital deficits have a direct impact on patient care. Never mind the long term, Members are witnessing short-term temporary closures of wards and beds. The situation is serious and part of the solution to deal with it pertains to developing real efficiencies. However, the Minister is not consistent. For instance, he has cited his appeal to the management at both Galway and Limerick to consider redirecting certain procedures, which from their perspective are non-intensive, from their respective sites to smaller hospitals in the region. The Minister instanced how hernia operations or procedures are to go to Ballinasloe or Roscommon. This is welcome because Members want to see decentralisation-----

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