Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am shocked to learn the hospital only has a 123 bed capacity, a small amount of beds given the hospital serves the whole country. We are catering for an ageing population who, unfortunately, often suffer strokes before dying from a heart attack.

I get the impression from the Minister of State's reply that patients currently taking up beds at the hospital should not be doing so. The horrible term "bed blockers" comes to mind.