Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister referred to sustainable improvement. Currently, there are 700 people fit for discharge in our hospitals and a resolution of that issue would help to alleviate this crisis.

However, the other issue is trolleys being moved up the wards to cover up and massage the figures. That is not acceptable and it is not an example of good practice. Acute hospital beds cost approximately €1,000 each and, therefore, cost effectiveness is an issue in the context of the number of trolleys. The Minister needs to up his game. We need less spin and we need to get people off trolleys and out of our accident and emergency departments. We also need to provide a quality health service, which is the real issue. We have been conned about these figures over the past three and a half years. Deputy Varadkar is the new Minister and he has the opportunity to up his game and deal with the real issues.

See this speech in context