Seanad debates
Tuesday, 13 May 2003
Health Service: Statements.
I am told that consultants do not have full use of equipment paid for by taxpayers' money after 3 p.m. I do not know why this is, just as I do not know the reason some services close down at 5 p.m. These issues need to be addressed. I do not have the slightest difficulty in paying for somebody to travel to Belfast, Moscow or anywhere else to buy the treatment they cannot get in this country. The location of the hospital is of no relevance whatever. If I was told tomorrow morning that I had a serious difficulty and that I needed to travel to Madrid, Copenhagen or Belfast to have it treated, I would just do it. If that is a more efficient way of treating people, the person who is sick does not need to be part of any philosophy on this side of the world. I do not think it is good but if it is a more effective way of doing it, we must accept that to be the case. I do not know. I certainly believe we need to move forward in such a way.
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