Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the decision by the Department. The Minister of State will be aware that the model of care has been published. Lymphoedema Ireland has worked hard to get it to this stage. It is important that what happened to the GPs in terms of the hard work they did to introduce new ways of dealing with issues to reduce costs does not happen in this regard. This is about saving money and, therefore, it is important that this plan should not be left on a shelf. I intend to follow up on this matter. Regarding savings and better services provision to patients everything should be done to implement this plan at the earliest date.

I accept the Minister of State's response that this model of care was only signed off in the past few weeks but it is important that signing off on it is not seen as progress and that the plan does not remain on a shelf for 12 months or two years. That is not what I want to happen and I know it is not what the Minister of State wants to happen either. I know she wants it implemented. It is important that the Department and the HSE work with Lymphoedema Ireland on the implementation of the model of care plan that has been signed off.