Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will see. If, as I hope, this turns out to be the case, it will have little to do with the sluggish response of the Government. Fine Gael and Labour have failed to address the root of the problem. I have heard nothing that convinces me that this will not reoccur next year, and sooner, if circumstances present.

Solutions are now needed. The Minister must address this crisis with the measures I outlined, but also commence reform of the organisation of the health services, including primary care, to ensure there is a refocusing of reliance in the first instance on general practice and prevention, rather than flooding the bottlenecks of the accident and emergency departments.

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