Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----but just this week, after years of work, we were able to announce really important progress on children's spinal services. We were able to announce that this year, the number of children waiting more than four months will fall from 86 to 20. I fully accept that it is still 20 too many, but we have gone from 86 to 20 in one year and all 20 of them in consultation with their surgeons will be offered care in the United States. I appreciate that the facts do not suit some Members of this House. I appreciate that the facts do not suit the failed state narrative that our doctors and nurses are achieving nothing on behalf of patients but they are. I work with them every day, every week and every month. I have worked with them for four and a half years. They delivered one of the best results on Covid anywhere in the world in terms of excess mortality.

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