Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

Some €59 million has been invested in Mayo General Hospital over the past five years, while more than €150 million has been invested in Tullamore Hospital.

These are significant investments in what constitutes a regionalisation of health services. One can talk all day about the problems that exist. As public representatives, we hear daily about constituents' difficulties with accident and emergency services and waiting lists every day. However, of the more than 1 million patients who were treated in our hospitals in 2003, some 83% found it a positive experience. We must give credit where it is due. Everybody agrees that immediate reform is needed and this is the objective the Government is implementing. We all hear the scare stories and everybody has a family member who has experienced the hospital service. Senator O'Meara spoke about services for the elderly. Significant resources are being invested in this sector to fund facilities such as housing, heating, home visits and so on. Senator Glynn mentioned the number of new physiotherapists. We can offer criticisms until the cows come home but that will not improve conditions for those people who are depending on health services.