Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy about the huge amount of work that front-line staff do across our hospital system. I commend them on the work they do in difficult circumstances.

The Government’s investment in healthcare is achieving outcomes. There is faster access to services, with numbers of people on trolleys in the first eight months of the year down by 11%, for example. That demonstrates the commitment and ongoing progress we are seeing in our health system. There has been enormous progress in Tullamore and the midlands group on with regard to the numbers of patients on trolleys, for example. This demonstrates the impact of investment and the unprecedented resources provided for the recruitment of front-line staff is having. Similarly, there are plans for further staff recruitment in the Midland Regional Hospital group and Tullamore for next year. That builds on the progress we have made as regards the trolley count in Tullamore, for example, where we are seeing an impact in wait times. We have more to do, however. That is why in the budget, the Minister is keen to complement the investment in front-line health workers with capital investment for the future and thousands more beds being developed right across the country in the coming years.

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