Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

This is a scandal. The Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney and Professors Keane and Drumm must answer for this. As a result of this 200 hip replacement operations will not be carried out, there will be a 50% cut in gynaecological services and a €500,000 cut in laboratory testing. This is resulting in serious risk to patient health. Galway University Hospital serves 1 million people, a critical mass, one quarter of the population of this country from Donegal to North Tipperary.