Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am glad the Minister for Health is here. The programme for Government refers to reducing the number of people on trolleys in our hospitals. This seems like a joke to people in Limerick. We have an emergency in our hospital every single day. So far this month, an average of 70 people have been waiting on trolleys in the hospital. Before the Minister gives me a spin about reducing the numbers, already this year 3,000 more people have been on trolleys in Limerick hospital than last year. One step the Minister could take immediately do to address this matter is deliver a second MRI scanner. Will he do that? He stated in a reply to parliamentary question on 10 October that the issue would be considered as part of the HSE budget. Will he make a commitment to deliver this scanner as it is exactly what nurses at the hospital are seeking immediately? Will the Minister give a commitment today that it will be delivered, funded and staffed?

See this speech in context