Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)

The elective hospitals are absolutely critical health infrastructure. In the past, acute and emergency cases have had to compete with elective cases, with people who had waited long periods having their elective surgery deferred. We often talk about the emergency room as being the focus point but it is really just a symptom of lack of capacity within our health services. I am very happy with what the Minister has outlined in terms of developing capacity in the health service. We need to alleviate demand and separate out acute care from elective care.

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