Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am very disappointed because everybody keeps saying "no" to me on this issue, and it is Christmas. Regarding co-location, which represents a major policy shift to privatisation, what consideration has been given to the manpower implications for nursing, midwifery and other health professions arising from the building of co-located hospitals, primarily performing elective work, which therefore will be very attractive places to work? What measures will be introduced to ensure the remaining acute public hospitals can retain the necessary skilled nursing, midwifery and allied health professional workforce? In the absence of the necessary legislation, how will standards in these new hospitals be audited and maintained in a public and transparent fashion? These are genuine manpower questions which I would like the Minister of State to consider.