Many people due to have hip replacements have to wait longer. This has a consequent knock-on effect on those originally earmarked for surgery later this year. Despite what has been said by the Minister of State, waiting lists are lengthening in every health board region. Where does this leave the much hyped national health strategy document? Would the money and effort that went into it not have been better spent on continuing to employ essential staff? Not in the Government's view, but it is the opinion of many that this much hyped document was only part one of the famous Fianna Fáil manifesto.