Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I believe there have been many other instances. However, Dr. Cassidy has also raised the question of her isolation and restriction regarding speaking to relatives. She is obviously a person of great humanity and has clearly stated that, judging from her previous experiences, the operation in Ireland is very restrictive and that there should be such a facility. I call on the Minister immediately to review the entire situation regarding the conditions under which she must work. She particularly instances stress, and anything that might alleviate that, whether it be the provision of transport or some more open and less restrictive practices in the area, should be acceded to as a matter of urgency.

I also support Senator Ryan on the question of the daily charge of €55 for those waiting on trolleys in hospital accident and emergency departments. Allied to that, there is a particularly disgusting situation regarding health service charges, whereby a person involved in an accident, major or minor, entering a hospital, is charged anything from €800 per night. When the person is discharged from the accident and emergency department, he or she finds that the bill has already arrived home, despite the fact that there might be no claim or involvement on the part of insurance companies. It is important that the entire area of hospital charges, especially in accident and emergency departments, be streamlined and made efficient.