Maurice Hayes (Independent)

To do so adds to the grief of families. As the Senator informed us, an ambulance arrived within four minutes which compares very well with international standards. I wish people would not speak about downgrading hospitals as if to look after the elderly and those with chronic conditions were somehow less honourable and praiseworthy than to carry out spectacular surgery of one sort or another.

I offer these reflections to the Minister as I have been in the business for a long time. I carried out a review of the Northern Ireland hospital system and produced a report which was very similar to Mr. Hanly's. The words used may have been different, but the thrust was there. It is unfair and unreasonable to encourage people to believe one can provide full accident and emergency cover at every hospital around the clock. I wish people would stop talking about hospitals and consider hospital and health systems in which so much more can be done at the primary care level to keep people out of hospitals. A great deal can also be done to get people out of hospitals and into more suitable care.

At issue is the concentration of a small number of surgical specialties and cancer treatments. International experience does not support Senator Bannon's argument, especially in the context of cancer treatment. According to international experience, concentration improves outcomes and survivability.