James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can certainly consider the Deputy's suggestion on exploring how we might develop a separate route for patients who feel they are deteriorating, without requiring them to resort to attending an accident and emergency department. As a doctor, I am aware that if people are left to wait for a prolonged period, elective surgery can turn into emergency surgery. That is not something anybody would wish to see. It is only right and proper, however, that the clinicians make these decisions. It would not be proper for management to do so.

Major improvements have been made to waiting times but I acknowledge that they are still too long. We seek to continue to improve them through further reform of the health services and monitoring of waiting lists. Some hospitals have not been co-operating with the policy of seeing those who have waited longest first, once urgent and cancer cases have been dealt with. That is a problem.

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