David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In one of the hospitals the Minister will visit tomorrow, Cork University Hospital, the average wait time for over 75s in April was 28.8 hours which is staggering. These are people over the age of 75, who the Minister admits have comorbidity and other challenges. The average wait time in the Mercy Hospital was 26.8 hours and University Hospital Limerick was 22.2 hours. We have major problems in all our acute hospitals. The Minister is right in saying some hospitals are getting it right. I will get to the solutions in my next round of questions. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and Cavan hospital are two examples of hospitals that have put in place in a zero-tolerance approach to emergency department waits and it seems to be working. Why is this not being replicated across the State?

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