Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

We are concerned here with some key changes in the role of hospitals, ensuring that all hospitals provide the type and level of service for which they are best suited. The Government has emphasised that the recommendations involve not just a transfer of some services from smaller to larger hospitals, but also the other way around. That is extremely important. If the number of consultants is doubled, there will be many more consultants working in the smaller hospitals.