Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 78, 156 and 179 together. I thank Deputy Gould for the question. Similar questions were tabled by Deputies Colm Burke, Stanton and Cullinane. This reply addresses all of those questions.

The development of new elective care capacity is a big commitment of the programme for Government. Last December, I brought a memo to Government and secured agreement on a new national elective ambulatory care strategy that will transform the way in which day cases, scheduled procedures, surgeries, diagnostics and outpatient services can be better arranged to ensure greater capacity in the future and help to tackle waiting lists through the development of dedicated, stand-alone elective hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin.

Initial proposals, as set out in a strategic assessment report, had been to develop elective day-case hospitals only. However, extensive consultations with stakeholders, particularly in Cork and Galway, indicated support for incorporating inpatient care in the new elective facilities. In other words, the proposal that came to me from the team was firmly of the view that it should be day-case services only. There was a lot of interaction around the House from Deputy Gould and others, Deputies from Galway and Cork, who said there is a strong desire for inpatient, overnight facilities in these elective hospitals as well so they could do more complex work.

We are doing it two phases. Phase 1 will be day case, outpatients and diagnostics, and phase 2 will be inpatients. Critically, however, the business case, on which we will be signing off, includes both phases and all the design work so that when phase 2 comes on, it will be part of an integrated system.

I am sorry, Acting Chairman; I am not sure of the time.

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