Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In just 18 months, Minister Reilly has a considerable record of achievement with a more than 20% reduction year on year in the number of patients on trolleys, a reduction from an all time high of 569 patients on 5 January 2011 to 139 on 7 September 2012, which is a 75% reduction; overall surgical waiting list numbers have decreased by 7% while the number of people waiting over 12 months has decreased by 85%; those waiting over nine months by 63% and those waiting over three months by 66%. The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012 has been published; the restrictions on GPs wishing to become contractors under the GMS have been abolished; a programme for the development of 20 primary care centres using public private partnerships has been established and the development of chronic disease management programmes, in particular the management of diabetes is at an advanced stage. It is particularly noteworthy that these significant reforms have been achieved despite the 6,000 reduction in staff as referred to by the Tánaiste and reductions in budget of €1.75 billion. The Minister's most notable achievement is the new arrangements agreed in negotiations last week with hospital consultants. Fianna Fáil's political timing is very poor in terms of it having tabled a motion of no confidence in the Minister, Deputy Reilly, at a time when he was negotiating one of the major reforms in the public service, namely, the new agreement with the consultants.

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