Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising these issues and I join him in paying tribute to University Hospital Waterford on its efficiency and its being the best model-4 hospital in respect of its emergency department and getting the waiting list down 20%. I will revert to him on the current status of the capital plan with regard to cardiology beds and the second catheterisation lab. We are committed to that, as the Deputy knows, but I will get the detail on how it is progressing. Any loss of private nursing home capacity is to be regretted, given the importance that capacity plays in the flow through a hospital in terms of discharge and having proper quality care available for people who, at the stage of their lives, require nursing home residential provision. A range of measures is being put in place by the Minister to support nursing homes.

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