Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader request the Minister for Health and Children to review his position regarding the Hanly report? The British Health Secretary recently made a statement which contradicts the view of our Minister that major centres of excellence are the best way to deliver an adequate health service. He said that biggest is not best and, having realised the mistake they made in the delivery of health services in Britain, the best way to deliver such services is through well equipped and well staffed local hospitals. It is a pity our Minister plans to expend great resources on spin doctors to sell the Hanly report when it is clear that method of delivering health services is a failure. Why should we adopt a system that we now know is a failure? The Leader should ask the Minister to immediately review his position on the Hanly report.