Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

There are issues that arise, to be honest. I am aware of one service where one third of the staff will go on maternity leave in May. This is an incredible statistic. We have pressure points and I will not pretend for one moment we will not have difficulties and services will have to adapt to budgetary issues. It does not make sense to keep services open if they do not run effectively and efficiently. If a procedure can be done on a day care basis as opposed to an in-hospital basis it should and people should not be called back to outpatients when it is not necessary. As Professor Keane stated, many cancer patients are called back to the consultant as outpatients when they should be going to their general practitioner. Major change is under way. I assure the House that more services will be provided this year in the community and in hospitals than was the case last year. I will be happy to return to the House.