Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I was not asking about primary care - these treatments cannot take place in a GP's surgery. These are vital treatments on which patients depend and they are being refused simply because they do not live in Dublin. It is being done as a cost-saving measure within the HSE and the hospitals. This is how the hospitals are reducing waiting lists and seems to be how the Government wants to achieve a reduction in waiting lists. I have given just one example, but there are many examples from throughout the country as my colleagues in the Technical Group can confirm. The Government needs to give a direction that hospitals in Dublin that provide specialist care on which people throughout the country depend must not refuse people simply because they do not come from Dublin. Patients must get their treatment in a timely way.

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