Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Let us acknowledge a success where there is success. The number of people on trolleys is down by 17% over the course of the past year and that is acknowledged by the INMO, which counts the trolleys. The numbers are down and the INMO has acknowledged that the strategy being pursued, through the special delivery unit, is working.

Of course, there is more to be done and more improvements to be achieved. The Government and the Minister for Health will continue with that work and are open to hearing from the people at the front line, including nurses, what needs to be done. The bottom line here is that the number of people on trolleys is down and by any standard, a 17% reduction over the course of the past year is a significant one.

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