Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with all the Deputy's comments. We want to run our existing theatres, diagnostic suites and outpatient clinics for longer so that consultants and their patients can get more access to our current resources. As he correctly stated, this will require more theatre nurses, administrative support and technicians. We can get much more for patients out of our current capacity, which is why the new contract will gradually double the time available to them.

That said, we also need a great deal more new capacity. Yesterday was a good day in that regard. There was Government agreement on two new elective hospitals and five new surgical hubs, including one in the Deputy's constituency of Waterford, which will make a significant difference. This is in line with a fundamental increase in the permanent capacity of our public health service.

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