Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is the closest I will ever get to a compliment from Deputy Kelly. It started off well but I wanted to start off well because I did not want to dismiss the Deputy's idea. There is merit in scoping out this issue. Discussions would be needed on the type of procedures, how it would work, how we would make sure we do not divert resources from public hospitals, and how we make sure that we get on with solving the pressures in our accident and emergency departments. It is not that we are sitting on our hands doing nothing for this winter, as the Deputy knows. While my Department will have further meetings with the Private Hospitals Association and while we have already begun a dialogue as to how it can contribute more services, taxpayers provide funding and we are already putting in place €40 million for the winter initiative. That involves some of the things the Deputy is talking about regarding a flu epidemic. It involves more people getting the flu vaccine, and we should all take this opportunity to remind people to get it. It involves 13 community intervention teams, which can reduce our hospital bed requirements by approximately 73. It involves opening our primary care centres and expanding out-of-hour GP services. It involves, as we have done in Cork, opening acute medical assessment units, AMAUs, at the weekends. The unit in Cork is the first one in the country that is open seven days a week. It involves more home care packages, so it is multifaceted. The private hospitals have a role to play and I am happy to examine that aspect.

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