Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Today, a call was made for sick patients to go to GPs and other pathways to try to avoid emergency departments. Unfortunately, in Tyrrelstown in my constituency, their GP clinic will close in February and, as we know, there is overwhelming evidence that people are dying in emergency departments. Let me give an example. The Tánaiste talked about primary care, early diagnosis and access to services. There is a crisis in the endoscopy unit at Connolly Hospital. There are currently just four scopes being performed daily. There are delayed procedures and therefore delayed diagnoses. Will the Tánaiste commit to the opening of the endoscopy unit and increasing bed capacity to avoid the shutting down of day services? I am also told the hospital management has postponed the successful bowel screening programme. Again, as was said, pathways, early diagnosis and access to treatment are really important.

See this speech in context