Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

I am pleased the Labour Party has put down this motion. What is important about it, and the Minister alluded to this earlier, is that it puts forward solutions for debate. It is regrettable that other business has prevented Senator Alex White being present for the full debate. We need to focus on solutions. All Members are concerned about the care administered to the patient, regardless of our political ideologies. None of us could accuse another Member of not having the care of the patient at the heart of the policy initiatives they espouse.

Senators Alex White and Kelly questioned whether it was right that Professor Drumm be the Accounting Officer for the executive. Like the Minister, I consider it vital that this be the case, when one is making the choices and decisions. The policy is decided in the Department but when one is making the choices on its delivery one must have responsibility to ensure that if savings are being made in one area, good practice can be provided in another. I hate to sound like a broken record but I consider the Minister, Deputy Mary Harney, an inspiration. Her most admirable trait is that she never loses focus. Yes, it is a difficult job, particularly when it involves life and death issues in people's lives, but she remains focused on the task. That is highly commendable.

Like Senator Feeney, I heard Professor Anthony Staines on the radio during the week. I listened to the programme again this afternoon on the Internet and it is particularly good. Professor Staines runs the health system research in DCU and I hope Professor Drumm and the Minister are familiar with him. In the interview he said that systems are not really important, nor is changing the system we have at present, particularly if it involves turning round a process of reform mid-stream. The Minister is utterly convinced she has turned a corner with the reform, and it is important that we see results on that front. What is the point in changing the system? As Professor Staines said, it may not be the perfect system but it is the system we operate. What is important is how services are delivered, how medical personnel, such as doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and so forth, operate within the system and the latitude and capacity they are given, and take themselves in terms of initiatives, to deliver better patient care.

What the Minister told us about neurology services is important. We should reflect on it. As the Taoiseach said this morning in response to the Labour Party Leader, it is all very well for the Opposition to be exclusively concerned about the patient without reference to a budget. I disagree with the point that the HSE is driven purely by budgetary concerns. That is not the case. It seeks to provide best delivery of patient care but it must operate within a budget. In neurology services it was able to double outcomes with no extra money, purely through a change in work practices. That is something we should consider. Staff morale is a problem but we need to examine where this works and how it can be replicated in other areas.