Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Dún Laoghaire · Fine Gael · Ireland
“It will be provided by a registered pharmacist in accordance with the relevant pharmacy legislation, including this Bill. Section 2 of the Bill makes various amendments to the Irish Medicines Board Act and the Pharmacy Act. Those amendments ensure that whole legislative framework is cross-referenced correctly.”
“We now have a common conditions service where you can go to a pharmacy instead of a GP to get a diagnosis and prescription for eight basic conditions like conjunctivitis or urinary tract infections - the kind of things that just come up in people's lives all the time. We would like to expand more and more what pharmacies can do.”
“In particular, the board will be focusing on aspects of menstrual health, on aspects of postpartum mental health, particularly in traumatic birth cases, on something we have overlooked for some time, which is endometriosis, on women who are finding it difficult to access services in different ways, as Senator Harmon suggested, and on more…”
“The extension to 41- to 45-year-olds could possibly be €5 million to €8 million because there are statistically fewer women in that bracket trying to conceive, so the numbers are higher. It really is a question of funding. I remind Senators that they have also asked me to fund various other programmes.”
“That followed confirmation from the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and the Health Products Regulatory Authority that the patch and ring are classified as medicinal products, not medical devices. That is just a correction there.”
“That is why we have put so much money into supporting them in different ways, including the conclusion of a €50 million increase to their fees and to provide for the opportunity to raise private funds in this way, for example, the common conditions service. I want to see pharmacists doing more.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,593 lines we hold for Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 12 of 32.
“Crucially, it also ensures that Ireland can meet its obligations under the EU European Health Data Space Regulation, which took effect in 2025 and gives patients across Europe greater access to, and control over, their own health information. The Bill, as passed by the Dáil in November 2025, is divided into five Parts with 25 sections. It provides a clear legal basis for the creation of electronic health records. It clarifies the HSE's authority to obtain necessary information for good planning and performance oversight. The Bill is framed around each of us as patients, and our rights to have our health information managed in a way that supports integrated health and social care. I will provide a brief explanation of the sections.”
“Digitising services across health and social care is a Government priority and successive budgets have provided increasing funding to develop and deliver on digital health initiatives. One such initiative is the HSE patient app, launched in February 2025, which makes us all true partners in our health journey. If Senators have not already downloaded the health app, which I am sure they all have, I take this opportunity to encourage them to do so. The Health Information Bill provides the clear legal framework needed to support digital health initiatives such as electronic health records, secure information sharing and improved planning.”
“I am pleased to present the Health Information Bill to Seanad Éireann following its recent passage through the Dáil. The Bill is about something very simple but very important - making our health service safer, more joined up and more patient centred by ensuring that health information can move securely to where it is needed. Today far too much of our health information is held in totally disconnected systems. Patients repeat their stories, clinicians lack full information and vital insights for planning their care are difficult to access. This Bill begins to change that. It puts patients in control of their information. It supports better care and it lays the foundation for a modern, digital health service.”
“While I know women who take paracetamol for pain relief and that is fine for them, paracetamol is absolutely not enough for very many endometriosis sufferers who have felt patronised in the extreme by being told that taking paracetamol is the solution for them. It might be the solution for one woman but it is not the solution for every woman and we have not reached a solution in relation to pain management for the more complex and severe cases of endometriosis.”
“As I said, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, which includes the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, will host a day dedicated to endometriosis. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is also leaning into it. We are developing treatment and long-term fellowships abroad in order that we have a much better standard of surgery here. Yes, a two-year scheme is challenging. Are we going to meet that clinical need within that period? It is a race to do so but we are trying to pull every lever we can to deliver a much better service for endometriosis patents. I also recognise what the Senator said about pain and pain management. Again, there is a huge spectrum. The clinical guidance includes paracetamol.”
“As for the drug mentioned by the Senator, as she will be aware, we have a drug assessment process operated through the HSE and I leave value-for-money analysis and health technology assessments, HTAs, to it. We must also ensure that the applications are made. This matter is more complex than simply me deciding. We are trying in every possible way that we can to change the dial in terms of how endometriosis is understood. Bernard Gloster and I wrote to every GP in the country to highlight both how common endometriosis is and the presumptive diagnosis pathway. We are trying to upskill and train. We have hired an additional colorectal surgeon to work in a multisystem way alongside obstetric surgeons to make sure that we have the personnel to perform more complex surgeries here.”
“As this is an internationally accredited list, we would simply use the list because we can stand over it both legally and from a clinical perspective. Those clinicians mentioned by the Senator should speak to the clinical director, Dr. Cliona Murphy, about this matter. We also have tried to expand the surgical options here. I demanded a programme of an additional 100 surgeries be done in quarter 4 of 2025 using every tool that we could among our maternity hospitals. I am pleased to say that we got 142 extra surgeries within our own system. That shows we really are trying to make progress in this regard. The Senator is right to highlight obstetric training for GPs and it is very important. As for fertility, that is a different scheme and I am expanding it as best I can. I am certainly very alive to the concerns of endometriosis patients.”
“Some will and some will not but unless we keep within the criteria of the scheme, the scheme itself cannot survive. That is why this is so important. We are trying to do something very different. We have never created a scheme like this. We are creating it to try to meet a need. In many cases, there are women availing of this already and we are trying to do our best to make sure that women are supported in every way but we do operate within certain constraints. I appreciate that I have not answered all of the questions but I have run out of time and will answer if I have another opportunity.”
“The clinic in Greece that the Senator mentioned is not on that list, which is why it is not part of this scheme, but we have asked clinicians to visit the clinic to see whether it meets the standards and the reason is as follows. As before, consultants were reluctant to recommend that women get their treatment abroad because they could not stand over and verify it. We are now saying to them that we have done that for them based on these internationally accredited lists and therefore, this clinic is fine and they do not have the option any more. We are telling them they should be comfortable referring to a clinic because it is against a measurable list. Greece and Romania were not on the list but we have tried to take extra steps to see if they can meet the standards.”
“This is a big step forward for the clinical community, which had not previously recognised endometriosis at that level before. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is also leaning in. There has been a very big change in the clinical community's understanding of endometriosis and their commitment to upskilling, imaging and surgery options. Again, the criteria for this scheme must be tightly set. It is not that we are selecting countries or clinics at random. We are looking for specific accredited lists. The British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy and the European Endometriosis League both provide specific clinical criteria.”
“It is really important to understand that. The only way we could legally set up a scheme is that it is absolutely essential that it is a temporary scheme to meet a need we cannot meet today while we are on a pathway to meeting that need clinically. Otherwise, the scheme would not survive. It has to be understood that it has to be temporary and time limited. As a result, it is limited to two years. We have an enormous body of work to do in order to try to upskill and advance imaging and surgical options here. I am pleased to say that work in this regard is progressing. For example, there have been a number of different study abroad opportunities. We are creating fellowships for surgeons to do much more detailed work. The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland around the corner is having a dedicated day on endometriosis in March.”
“It gives a presumptive diagnosis background for GPs rather than their having to articulate and advance an argument. It gives a presumptive diagnosis basis, which is an enormous step forward for people on a pathway to get proper specialist care in the regional centres. Let me speak about the endometriosis surgery abroad interim scheme, ESAIS, scheme in particular, because there are a couple of important pieces in respect of that. We created the scheme specifically because we did not want women to have to pay upfront in the way they have done for either the treatment abroad scheme or the cross-border directive where they can be reimbursed. I recognise that, first, the treatment they were looking for was not necessarily available in Ireland and, second, it was too expensive to try to pay for that upfront.”
“The Senator raised quite a number of issues. I suspect that she and I have spoken to many women who have many of the same issues. We must recognise that endometriosis is a whole-system condition, but it does in many cases start from a gynaecological position as well. We have to acknowledge both of those things. We are very much trying to move the dial in terms of how it is understood and described. That is why the framework has been advanced beyond where it started out to really try to recognise, as the Senator said, that this is a whole-system condition for many women, although not all, and that it impacts maybe one in six women. It is a very common condition indeed. I launched the national framework for the management of endometriosis on 18 October. It is the first time that we have had such a framework.”
“We have to recognise the exceptional work that is being done at the research level in targeting and manipulating cancer cells in completely different ways, so people are living longer. This year is an exciting year to try to really drive forward with ambition with what we are going to do for the next ten years.”
“It is one of the reasons we have prioritised that for the pharmacy extension, and in the agreement that we have reached with pharmacists, who are now going to try to proactively register some of their patients on the bowel cancer screening programme in an effort to get more people onto that screening programme. Encouragingly, I met Professor Daniel Ryan from Beaumont this week regarding different options for lung screening and what opportunities may be there. We are not doing enough on lung cancer screening, particularly for those people who are not symptomatic or are very young. We are now able to pick that up much better than has been the case heretofore. The Deputy and I could speak about all of the different elements of cancer care, from vaccinations to screening to identification.”
“It is about machinery, treatment and additional staff. It is also about prevention programmes and screening programmes. We have recently announced the extension of the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up vaccination programme targeted at fifth and sixth years in schools. We would encourage anyone whose child, male or female, has not had that vaccination to get it where it is offered. We know it is most effective when a child is about 12 or 13, before they become in any way sexually active. Please take that vaccination if you can. It is there to try to eliminate cervical cancer. I am examining, with the screening control programme and NSAC, the opportunities to most effectively extend screening for bowel cancer in a way that is going to get the best for us. I am very conscious of the “do not attend” rate and the rate of participation for that.”
“I am here for the public system. I am here to invest in the public system and to champion the public system. A total of 80% of our cancer care gets delivered through the public system and that is my focus. The Deputy is correct to highlight the replacement programme in St. Luke's. I have updated the Deputy that there is a replacement equipment supply commencing in quarter 1, with a contractor in place this year. In quarter 4, we are also working on a detailed business case for the Beaumont phase 2 expansion. There is also work to be done in Cork and Galway. There is a particular difference with St. Luke's, but the work is progressing. The Deputy is quite right that it should have progressed before now. I highlight as well some of the other important developments that are happening more broadly.”
“This new regional funding model enables us to put the 6% uplift that we have in the budget and the 3,300 people into the system and make sure that those resources are targeted in the most effective way to achieve a much better regional equality for people across this country.”
“These are the sorts of changes that we are trying to make through a reallocation of funding this year. It is a really important shift. The Deputy correctly identifies that there is too much variance in how people are treated around this country depending on where they happen to live and the type of cancer they happen to have, and that is not good enough. I want people in Donegal and Dublin to have the same equality of treatment. I want people in Cork to have the same treatment as the people in Galway and as the people in Tullamore, that they have the same expectation no matter what cancer they have that they will be diagnosed and treated in an equal way. We have not had the transparency previously of being able to assess which regions are meeting the standard and which are not.”
“We want to be unapologetically ambitious in terms of where people are getting their cancer treatment. For example, I visited Bantry and Cork University Hospital. Repeatedly, I see people being supported in their transport needs to get from Bantry to Cork University Hospital, on a Tuesday for a blood test and on a Wednesday for their infusion. I do not want them to have to travel from Bantry to CUH. I would like people to be able to get their treatment - their specialist diagnosis and plan for treatment in our specialist centres but, thereafter, for them to get their treatment at home or as close to home as possible, in Bantry or in their home, rather than taking the fairly arduous journey for a cancer patient of travelling that distance to CUH.”
“We have given €5.5 million for the core funding of 21 centres around the country because they are providing therapeutic support, counselling support and psychosocial supports to people who are living with and beyond cancer, and those supports are just as important as every other element of the investment in our cancer strategy. This year, in the Department of Health we are evaluating the success of the ten-year cancer strategy which ends this year and beginning to do the work on devising the next one. We want to be unapologetically ambitious for what is possible because of what we have learnt, in particular, through technology. In relation to artificial intelligence, AI, we saw some really interesting work on that in the media today in relation to its use in diagnostics.”
“That does not mean that we change anything that we are doing, but we need to be diagnosing and treating much more quickly. As we both know, what we are looking at now is a future of people living with and beyond different types of cancer for much longer than would previously have been the case because we have the technology and the types of drugs that can keep people living with cancer much longer than would have been the case, but that does not change the challenge for those people's lives. We have consciously chosen to invest in our cancer support programme, for example, Rose Rock House in Castlebar or ARC in Cork.”
“I attended the Irish Daffodil Day launch for the volunteers. The ambassador for the Irish Cancer Society this year is Katie Foley from Inch in Kerry. She is 30 and she has a four-year-old girl. Katie was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. She runs her own business, a coffee shop. She has gone through a recovery process and is doing very well. She is ambassador this year. She has been speaking about the difficulty for every part of her life - looking after her little girl, looking after her business and getting the treatment that she needs. I highlight the example, as the Deputy has, of how it can impact so many young people. As we live longer and we are diagnosed with more illnesses, we should expect the rate of diagnosis to increase.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this on World Cancer Day and thank him for continuing to be an advocate for cancer patients across the island. As the Deputy has said, he and I could speak about this for a good hour and not get through all of the different issues. We are well aware that every person in this room and the people whom we represent are impacted by cancer in their families, in their broader families and in their community. While we have made huge strides in cancer care since the first national cancer strategy was launched, where we had only 45% of people surviving five years in the nineties and that is up to 65% now, with our mortality rate falling faster than anywhere else in the EU, as the Deputy correctly points out, however, the number of diagnoses is going to continue to increase and the population is increasing.”
“When we consider the possibilities for us in terms of being able to identify and treat different conditions in a very specialised and exciting way, and the contribution this could make to Ireland, not just in terms of health but also in terms of our economy, when we sit that alongside what is going to be, I hope, a really exciting project in respect of clinical trials - and we launched that strategy just before Christmas - this is a big opportunity for health, but also health research and health economy development. The IMF tells me that Ireland is the leading country for AI skills globally. Why would we not want to be at the front of all of that in respect of health as much as anywhere else?”
“However, the State will be ensuring the protection of data and the appropriate secondary use of data. Partnerships and collaboration with third level and private labs will also ensure appropriate control and use of data. That the State comes first is the important point in that respect, and that is evidenced by our gathering of the data from private hospitals in appropriate ways already. I cannot thank Members enough for the opportunity to discuss this specialised area of medicine.”
“It is already the case that the State, for example, has worked collaboratively with private hospitals, though with some difficulty prior to my coming into office, to make sure that the data held is also in the population health data of the Irish health system. Health data belongs to the State. Members will be aware that the health information Bill will be coming to the Seanad in due course. We have, of course, inserted all of the relevant safeguards for individual privacy, opt-out clauses, etc., but nevertheless, health data is an important research tool for all of us, and data ownership is key. The Bill is an important first step in ensuring that we can protect the data and the data research for clinical lives, and consent is absolutely key.”
“The absolute priority for me as Minister for Health is that as we develop policy and infrastructure and as we lean into science, and in particular the science of population-based health, I am completely determined that the State, and the people of Ireland being exactly the same thing, will be the owners of that data. We will own our own data. We will work collaboratively with partner, but the State will exercise its imperative in respect of the appropriate ownership of the data of our own people. We are taking important legislative steps in that respect. The health information Bill, for example, gives us great clarity on that.”
“However, self-sufficiency is our priority, and while we will always collaborate intelligently internationally to get the benefit of a broader population health understanding, our goal is self-sufficiency and domestic excellence. Because of the highly specialised nature of certain genomic tests, of course we will still give ourselves the facility to go abroad as an alternative to not doing that. Let us all be as intelligent in relation to that as possible. It is also important to consider the question of data ownership. In this regard, I wish to make a couple of points.”
“It was, of course, not what we wanted, but was of necessity as we built our own domestic capacity. However, where there have been genetic and genomic tests sent overseas, the process has been strictly governed by the Office of Government Procurement. In relation to transparency, I categorically reaffirm that any company, either in Europe or in the UK providing those services is legally bound by the same GDPR standards that we have here. I wish to affirm that. Senator Kyne referenced the target of 50% of genetic and genomic tests being done domestically. I am pleased to confirm that milestone has been surpassed. That is another good step, with internal volumes exceeding 40,000 samples.”
“The Genome of Ireland project represents Ireland's contribution to the wider Genome of Europe project. These projects are what are going to help us really drive research and developments in a broad population health data space. We know that we cannot do that as an island of 5.5 or 6 million people alone, we need to be part of a broader collective. That is what the impetus for the European health data space has been, the legislation for which will be implemented stage by stage by my Department over the next period. That is something we will discuss again and again. I acknowledge two issues that were raised during the debate and provide some additional clarification. It is true that genetic and genomic tets were sent overseas for a period in the past.”
“The business case for the genomic medical centre is currently being prepared, including progressing the various stages of approval required for such infrastructure. It is also going to serve as our national hub for the digital infrastructure that we need to manage our own genomic data. We are trying to look at this as a big picture project through the Genome of Ireland research project. We are currently sequencing the genomes of 1,200 individuals to create a reference database that actually reflects the genetic variation of Irish people. By doing that, we are not just helping people today, but trying to build a library, an understanding and a database, evolving over time. This library of knowledge will support our health service and the wider clinical and research community for generations to come.”
“I am so determined in relation to health that we have an equitable system, that is, equity in respect of income and geography. I want everybody, whether they are in Clifden, Cork, Donegal or Dublin, to have the same access to high-quality diagnostics in a timely way, supervised by a national clinical centre of excellence and expertise. The planned area of focus would create a required laboratory infrastructure, as well as making sure we have the staffing to do extended testing. That would help reduce the number of tests sent overseas. The proposed centre would also help build a required capacity to co-ordinate, where deemed necessary, the outsourcing of testing to accredited laboratories, which is fine.”
“That is going to allow the HSE to identify more providers with proven capacity and expertise to deliver outsource testing and clinical support, and the insight gained for that process will help inform our future strategy and help us to partner in the best, most intelligent way, using all of the services that are available to us in what is an absolutely leading centre for AI and medical technology. In addition to those developments, we also have a proposal from the HSE to develop a national genomic medicine centre. That is really exciting and really cool. The idea here is that we ultimately consolidate genetic and genomic testing services in Ireland. That planned facility would achieve a number of key overarching aims that would make our genetics and genomic services genuinely accessible to all.”
“That is a big step forward. It is a vital first step in providing an evidence base for expanding our national capacity and repatriating our testing services appropriately. Our colleagues in the HSE have finalised the requirements and hired the staff, and I can confirm it will be fully operational from Monday, 16 February. That is quite good. We will take that on a Thursday morning. Regarding the procurement of genomic tests, a request for information has also been issued by the HSE and is currently live, and it concludes at the end of this month.”
“In January 2025 – the year has gone so quickly - I launched the national genomic test directory for rare and inherited diseases, which will enhance genetic and genomic clinical services by promoting evidence-based, equitable and timely access to everybody in respect of genetic and genomic tests, with the drive that patients receive the right test in the right place at the right time, requested by the right person. Today, I am very pleased to announce another key milestone in implementing our reforms with the establishment of the national genomic processing service, which is going to be based in Beaumont Hospital. That unit will look to centralise the processing of requests for testing what previously had to be sent out of the country in essentially a disaggregated fashion out of necessity to get to the point where we are today.”
“We have sanctioned 26 specific roles, such as consultant clinical geneticist, genetic counsellor, laboratory scientists and the administration that goes all around that for the specialist engine room of this service. We would love to be further along than we are, but we are getting there. We will get there. We need to develop more national capacity and self-sufficiency in this respect. We have been using other solutions as we get to that point. The HSE National Genetics and Genomic Office was established in 2023 to implement our national strategy on genetics and genomics. Thanks to the efforts of both organisations, we have seen the establishment of some key service infrastructure through ongoing implementation of the national strategy.”
“The potential for transforming our system is abundantly clear, as is the need to ensure prudent investment in genetic and genomic services and the required infrastructure, as well as making sure we are getting the absolute best in terms of quality in that regard. I will give Members a couple of updates on what we are doing. Our services are currently expanding in terms of workforce and infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the population, as well as trying to keep pace with the technological developments that continue to happen in this space. We are funding this solution. In the programme for Government, we made a commitment to support genomic medicine for the entire population, allocating a dedicated budget of €4.5 million. That funding is currently being converted into front-line delivery.”
“I recently visited the Lambe research institute in Galway, which is connected to University Hospital Galway. I was so struck by the quality of the science and the way in which cancer genes are being manipulated against themselves. Forgive me if I am stating that in an unscientific way but Members will understand what I am saying. I was so impressed by the individualised approach to cancer treatment and diagnosis. That is, of course, where we want to go for many reasons. Sophisticated technology is used to deliver test results. It is a rapidly advancing high-tech area. As Senator Rabbitte said, Ireland is ideally placed to be at the front of high-quality genetic and genomic services. It shortens the time to diagnose. It eliminates inappropriate or ineffective treatments, and it really does improve patient outcomes while reducing costs.”
“I appreciate Senators Kyne and Byrne bringing forward this motion and giving us the opportunity to discuss this important issue. It is timely as well because there are a couple of updates that I can give that will be helpful in this context. We have a shared goal in the motion to enhance our genetic and genomic capability and to deliver high-quality care alongside value for money for the State. We are on the same page and it is a particularly timely conversation. As a number of Members said, the value that genomics and genetic testing can give us is so important. It is sort of a North Star, moving from a one-size-fits-all healthcare system to something that is much more individualised, and we heard some really good examples of that today.”
“Together, we are going to need make sure we are achieving the best opportunity for families of all kinds to avail of assisted human reproduction, as well as protecting all the human rights of all the third parties who may be involved in that, recognising that many of those third parties may not be our citizens. We have an obligation to look beyond and outside at everybody’s human rights as well as ours.”
“However, there is a timing issue there as between the rules of the court and the statutory instrument. When the 2024 Act, more broadly, was progressing through the Houses of Oireachtas, issues were identified which required further consideration and consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and there is an amendment bill at the advanced stage of drafting. It is a complex area, involving delicate balance of human rights and we have to get it right. For practical and legal reasons, the Act can only be fully commenced when the operational authority is in place. We have a board and recruitment for the CEO is well progressed. I look forward to the Deputy’s input to the Bill when we are debating it.”
“I assure the Deputy that much progress has been made on the path to providing the necessary oversight and regulation of assisted human reproduction. The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act was signed into law by the President in July 2024. Some administrative sections of the Act have been commenced, specifically to establish the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority, or AHRRA. In addition, work is under way to commence section 232 of the Act. This will result in the parentage of some donor-conceived children not covered currently by the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 being recognised. There is a small outstanding piece of work to do on timing and the statutory instrument with completing the rules of the court. I had hoped that could be done before Christmas, but I expect it to be done very shortly.”
“I know they will want to get back to work as quickly as possible but I have to separate the organisations that are within the public service agreement and those that are not and that are tendered separately. We have a direct responsibility for some, while others are between employer and employee and are a tendered service to the HSE, which is different.”
“To clarify, the Northside Home Care Services are funded through a separate tender arrangement. It is different; it is not HSE and section 39. The organisation is in receipt of small grant funding under section 39 in respect of meals on wheels but that is different. The HSE reached out to the Northside Home Care Services last week to remind them of the process for claiming an uplift in pay funding in respect of section 39 which it receives in respect of meals on wheels. However, beyond that, it is not a public sector body as such. In any dispute between an employer and employee, nobody wants the stress of going to work in those circumstances. Nobody wants to get to the point where they are initiating strike action, though they are entirely entitled to and I completely respect them doing that.”
“There is no question that Beaumont is the place I would want to be for any of those issues but as Minister for Health, I am as responsible for every patient that comes through and their experience in the emergency department and how long they are there as the investment in the extraordinary clinical research happening for the future. I am sorry, I only have ten seconds, but in respect of the Northside Home Care Services, I want to acknowledge people's presence here today. I have been informed of the extraordinary work done there. I have to o clarify for the House, it is not a public body as such. Terms and conditions are set by the organisation itself and it is a matter between the employer and employee. I can come back to that but it is not as straight forward as the HSE or a section 39 organisation issue that we might discuss.”
“I thank the Deputies for that. This is the issue with Beaumont. It is an exceptional centre of clinical excellence. It is the place you want to be for neurology and it is a place that provides extraordinary renal treatment, but we have to look at the hospital as a whole. While it does extraordinary surgery and neurosurgery, when somebody like Mrs. Anderson's husband presents, he needs the care, the throughput and acute medical care as well. That requires a concentration of the emergency department on the patient experience time. That requires a concentration on diagnostics and using all the assets for patient safety as much as for neurosurgery.”
“I am assured by the region that we have provided funding for staffing it and that staffing it is an absolute priority but that is not okay.”
“What has not improved is the patient experience time, PET. At the moment, Beaumont Hospital has the worst PET in the country. There are few different things. Beaumont Hospital has improved its trolley process. There is no question about that and it is to be commended on that because it involves the whole hospital moving patients through. However, there is a new CT machine in the hospital, for example, which was delivered last year. I was there on a Saturday morning in recent weeks. I visited four hospitals that morning. Beaumont Hospital was the one under the most pressure. When I was there, the emergency department was incredibly crowded. There were at least six or seven patients there who needed a CT. I then visited the CT machine that was sitting there, brand-new with its light off and no one working on it.”
“The project remains funded on the HSE capital plan. There is no question but that it is happening. Similarly, the 95-bed ward block is also progressing through the detailed design stage and, again, we will have a tender and market engagement for construction works. Separately, I am advised that the pre-tender business case for the radiation oncology unit was approved by the HSE just before Christmas. The first stage of that procurement process has been completed and we will have invitations to tender generally. I will make a few observations more broadly on the accident and emergency department experience in Beaumont Hospital, with respect to the Deputy's constituents. The trolley situation - the number of people who are admitted and are on trolleys - improved enormously in Beaumont Hospital over 2025.”