Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House. My local hospital is Portiuncula hospital in Ballinasloe. It has been indicated to me that phsyician services are under severe pressure due to staffing levels and the significantly increased number of patients from the Roscommon area being treated. Some consultants are reducing their outpatient clinics by as much as 30% because of the workload. The physicians fear that the department of medicine will become an 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. service and there is a fear that the accident and emergency department will also become an 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. service. I ask for an assurance from the Minister that the necessary staffing will be provided to ensure the physician services can continue to give a 24-hour service. Will the acute medical assessment units be staffed independently and separately?