Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are failing consultants, doctors, nurses and all our medical professionals through not providing the safe environment they require. They are accountable but through our failure, we are leaving them vulnerable in terms of their accountability and endangering patients' lives. That is a statistical fact.

The Saolta University Healthcare Group is too Galway-centric. This is a major issue. Take the example of the four ICU beds. The Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, Deputies Harkin and Martin Kenny and myself were trying to get them opened. They will be opened. However, at the very last minute at the pre-budget stage, the Saolta University Healthcare Group with HSE management tried to take two out.

There is a disconnect between what we are looking for, what we are hearing from patients and consultants and what the Minister of State is telling us, what HSE management is doing and where within the Saolta group resources are being allocated. This needs to change.

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