Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----and it is not anticipating any reduction in the service levels of this year.

Here is an important point for Deputy Martin. While a definite clinical need exists for those with chronic obesity, bariatric surgery is required for a minority of obese patients, 2% of the population. The vast majority require clinical treatment that is both hospital based and community based, and the HSE will continue the further development of this service, in 2015 and beyond, within the overall context of this service in the planning process.

Deputy Martin made the point that these are life-saving operations. On that basis, I would assume that the clinicians, who know best here, would prioritise which of the patients need to be dealt with most urgently. The Deputy asked me to meet the clinicians and he referred to the discretionary medical cards issue. In many cases, the persons who are now receiving back their discretionary medical cards have conditions and challenges that will last all their lives, and they may live for a long time - we hope that such be the case.

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