Seanad debates

Tuesday, 13 May 2003

Technological advances, an ageing population and other such factors will continue to put pressure on the budget. From a cost viewpoint there is a cruel paradox in the fact that the more successful the outcome, the more expensive it gets. I mentioned earlier the oncologists that we appointed. They have driven activity to an extraordinary degree, and that is a good story, but it increases demand and increases the number of people waiting for particular services – services which they simply did not get before. I do not know why people are saying services are worse now than previously – that is rubbish. The bottom line is people did not get some of the services we now have available.

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