Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

A total of 71 people were on trolleys in Cork University Hospital, CUH, this morning. It was the second most overcrowded hospital in the State last year, with 12,582 patients admitted without a bed. Already this year, the numbers presenting to the hospital's adult emergency department are up by one third on last year. This morning, the hospital's clinical director of emergency and acute care, Professor Conor Deasy, appealed to the Government to lift the staff embargo. What does the Taoiseach have to say about this situation? Will he stick with the recruitment freeze despite all the evidence that last year was a disaster in emergency departments and that demand has increased again this year? If he will not pay heed to the people on trolleys, will he at least pay heed to the words of Professor Deasy? Will he answer the professor's plea for an end to the freeze or will he stick to his worn-out mantras?

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