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 9 of 32.
“I thank the Deputy. I am fully committed to ensuring sufficient health care capacity across every part of Ireland. I compliment the work done in the midlands between the triangle of hospitals between Mullingar, Portlaoise and Tullamore, which are all performing at an exceedingly high standard in relation to all aspects of care, both emergency and scheduled. However, we need further development of the elective care capacity in the midlands.”
“In relation to Kanturk and Mallow, for example, there were issues going back in 2023 and 2024 that the Deputy will be aware of better than I in relation to Kanturk and Macroom treatment services. The HSE did engage with SouthDoc on the matter, which confirmed that the centres were to be available by appointment only. It has been improved somewhat. I am now aware that there is an on duty doctor physically present in the Mallow treatment centre each weekday night, which is important. They can see routine patients provide telephone clinical advice and travel to locations such as Kanturk to provide home visits. That is the support that is necessary in addition to a second doctor in situ at weekends in public hospitals. We do need that out of hours facility, as Deputy Daly has highlighted.”
“It is such a privilege to be able to do that and not charge the fees that would be charged in any other country to train as a medical practitioner and the opportunity that it gives people. We spoke about with dentists and spending a period in the public system. We want to develop a cohort of public GPs. There is no question about that, and we have to think about the ways in which we give people the opportunity, or make it a requirement, to spend time in the public service to get the benefit of that particular model. In relation to out of hours, it is really important to reflect on that, particularly in rural Ireland and where it can be more difficult to get to somebody that you need. I was reflecting on Cork in particular in anticipation of the Deputy's question.”
“Let me be very clear in relation to the recruitment. Any delay should only be in actually finding the consultant orthodontist and bringing them into the system. That does take time because people have to leave posts and so on but there should not be any delay at a HSE level recognising the level of need I have described to the Deputy and have described more broadly. In relation to GPs generally, we have expanded the training programmes and the numbers again and again. We do want them to work. We cannot force them to work as GPs in Ireland and we cannot force them to work in the public health system but that is what we want. Again, I think it is time to reflect on the level of investment that we put into training medical practitioners on behalf of the State.”
“That is on foot of three clinical staff retiring from duty, and that has a big impact. Plans to restore the whole-time equivalent levels of specialist orthodontist and senior surgeon posts are being advanced and finalised in HSE south west. In terms of any anticipated retirements for this year, we have not received any indications of retirements from the remaining clinicians but a specialist orthodontist has been on periods of sick leave, which is impacting further delivery. We had a conversation about the importance of that earlier. I thank the Deputy for raising it.”
“In relation to Cork, while no GMS general practitioner posts are vacant in County Cork, I do understand, for example, in the area Deputy O'Shea represents, in Charleville, in particular, that there is a practice that is going from three GPs to two GPs. The impact that this has on the community is hugely significant. It should not be understated. While it is one GP, that is what matters. It is the hours that are available. It is the support that is there to the community. I recognise the point the Deputy is making. I know HSE officials are continuing to engage with him on that on behalf of his community. In relation to the query regarding the orthodontic service in Cork, it is anticipated that the whole-time equivalent of specialist orthodontist will reduce to 2.83 from May 2026.”
“I find myself in agreement with all of the five points Deputy Daly made, such that I do not believe it is necessary to repeat them. I look forward to working with him on the practical points he has made, particularly in relation to the out of hours framework, the premises structure, what we might do and how we might think about that, and the development of that in terms of a tax-efficient way of encouraging activity. The Deputy correctly recognised the public-private element to it. I must also recognise it from the perspective of the taxpayer, and I think that is reasonably fair, but I do not see the need to repeat all those things that I already agree with him on, but I look forward to his input in how we improve them. I thank him for that.”
“Let me say loudly again that you do not need to go to your GP for eight conditions, including a simple eye infection, thrush or a urinary tract infection. You can go directly to your pharmacy and pay €30 for a consultation with a pharmacist, a diagnosis and a prescription. You need never go to two different places when you have such conditions. Who does that matter for? Everybody. It matters because it creates more space in GP practices for somebody who needs a prescription for a urinary tract infection. For an older lady, such an infection is a really serious thing that can get much worse and result in hospitalisation. Because we have changed the pathway, people can get quicker diagnosis and an appropriate prescription to clear up a basic but important and potentially risky infection.”
“People are living better with chronic diseases because of our investment in GPs and because they can access it more easily. I am concerned that there is not the same availability of out-of-hours GPs across the regions. That is putting additional pressures on emergency departments and local injury units, particularly at a time of rising population. I am particularly conscious of that in the mid-west and south west, but it is a national profile. That is something I need to make sure is included in any new contract. I have a number of other reflections about maximising the use of GP services so that we are getting the best in the community and reducing hospital presentations. It is important to say that our development of pharmacy contracts enables better access to GPs.”
“While the existing GMS GP contract has been significantly updated, including via a circular, a new approach must also be developed. The strategic review will identify the arrangements necessary to improve our current system of GP care and that will determine any changes required in a new contract. There is hugely significant investment in GPs, particularly in chronic disease management, which has been of real benefit to the broader healthcare system. Regarding the chronic disease management programme, the State has invested in GP services for the benefit of people of a particular age who may face chronic diseases. This is showing dividends in terms of patient care and in terms of the number of exacerbations and presentations to acute hospitals.”
“Annual intake into the GP training scheme increased by 80% from 2019 to 2024. We have further increased the number of new entrant training places this year by 50 to 400. In addition, recruitment of GPs from abroad continues under the international medical graduate rural GP programme, which targets the placement of GPs to rural and under-served areas. A strategic review of general practice that is examining the range of issues affecting it is under way and will be completed this year. The review will examine issues related to capacity and will consider further possible mechanisms to attract GPs to rural and under-served areas. The review will set out recommended actions for more sustainable general practice delivery for the whole community.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 21 together. I assure the Deputies that the Government is committed to the continued development of our general practice service and improving access to GP services for all patients around the country. Over €340 million in additional annual investment in general practice has been provided under the 2019 and 2023 GP GMS agreements. Those agreements provide for increased GP capitation fees, increased and new supports for practices and new fees for additional services. By any measure, that is a considerable support provided by the State and by the taxpayer to private practices. It is important to remember that. The positive impact of this investment is seen in the increased number of doctors both applying for and undertaking GP training.”
“Okay, but I do not follow your Instagram, if you will forgive me. I deleted it from my phone and do not have access to it so cannot speak to that with the knowledge the Deputy has of yesterday's email or any of those things. What I can simply say again and again is gender-based violence is wrong and the way we handle it is very important. Incidents should be reported to An Garda Síochána, to the Medical Council in cases relating to the doctor's profession and to the NMBI in respect of nurses. This House made a clear statement yesterday acknowledging that sexual and gender-based violence can happen within the medical profession as much as any other place, that nowhere is a perpetrator to be protected and that nowhere is a victim not to be heard. We said that loud and proud; certainly, these benches said it clearly yesterday.”
“It was a statement against gender-based violence in any context and in support of a vulnerable woman who should not have to deal with this.”
“I know UCD and its president, Orla Feely. It is a university led by a woman. That is a difficult position to achieve no matter what year we have reached. I know this medical student will have Professor Feely's full support. I will not speak about the particulars of courses, modules and all of those things I do not know about. It would be wrong of me to pretend I do, but I certainly know UCD will put its full support behind this young woman to give her the best opportunity to succeed in her course, as she or anybody is entitled to do. I have never lost faith in the younger generation's clarity around values or the way they articulate those values and support each other. The protest was a demonstration of solidarity across the medical training community and beyond.”
“We know about hundreds of such men and I suspect there are many hundreds of others we do not know about. We spoke about the impact it had on their lives to have a sexual offence perpetrated against them within the trusting relationship between doctor and patient. Gender-based violence, like any form of sexual violence, is totally unacceptable in the medical profession and healthcare settings, as it is anywhere else.”
“I know I do not need to say that to Deputy Coppinger any more than she needs to say it to me. We are entirely in agreement, as is every person in this House. I can unequivocally state that incidents of gender-based violence are unacceptable in any context and must be reported to An Garda Síochána. If any such incidents occur in the health sector and involve medical practitioners, they should also be reported to the Medical Council, which exists for the purposes of patient safety. The idea of a medical practitioner of any kind doing harm to any person, particularly a woman, is anathema to all of us and does not bear thinking about. Yesterday, we had statements in the Dáil on the establishment of an inquiry for the male victims of Michael Shine right across Louth and Meath.”
“I acknowledge that was a truly shocking case but I must be careful not to speak about individual cases in too much detail as it is a very sensitive matter. However, that does not mean I am not deeply concerned by it. I can say that the Medical Council is aware of that case and is actively engaging with the associated parties to get more information. The Medical Council has a responsibility to ensure that everybody in the doctor profession, including those in the UCD medical school, meet the required standards for medical education. I expect the Medical Council to make full use of its powers under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 with regard to accreditation and inspection of all training sites. I have asked my officials to engage with the Medical Council in this regard. Gender-based violence anywhere is completely unacceptable.”
“Because we have the capacity to tell that story rather than speaking in generalised ways, which unfortunately was our wont some years ago, we are able to have a much more detailed conversation and reflect fairly and honestly on the varying reasons for those things.”
“I understand the Deputy's point. We want the machines working hard. There is considerable variance. It should not get to 20 years. We have a programme of replacement. The HSE has a key performance indicator target for 90% of patients to commence treatment within 15 working days. The figure for performance nationally is 79%. The majority are exceeding the target. Unfortunately, St. Luke's is consistently below the key performance indicator target. Is that unfair to say? What are the specific reasons for that? Is it a question of disruption to machines, access to radiation or access to management? As public representatives, the Deputy and I are now able to intelligently interrogate the reasons for that and to challenge or support, as appropriate.”
“In January 2025, the percentage was 72%, in October it was 98%, in November it was 98% and in December it was 100%. In Cork, there was a fall-off. The figure was 97% in January 2025 but fell to 91%. That is still reasonably strong but nationally we are just not where we need to be. It is about resources, organisation and consistency.”
“I agree with the Deputy. I would like us to be replacing equipment because we have used it so intensively. Part of this issue relates to the number of radiation therapists. There has been a very considerable expansion in that regard. We have 217 radiation therapists in Ireland, an increase of 21% since 2020. In the last six years, the radiation therapy training programme has grown by 32%, with more than 20 additional specialty training posts established in the last three years. We need the people but we also need organisation to allow these machines to be run hard. I will give an example regarding a performance indicator for radiation oncology, that is, the number completing radical treatment and the percentage commencing treatment within 15 working days in the Deputy's own area of Galway.”
“The HSE advises that the typical lifespan of a linear accelerator is ten to 15 years, although some can be used for longer. An accelerator's lifespan depends on many factors, including the type, how it is used, how it is maintained and the manufacturer support lifespan, which includes software upgrades. There is a degree of variance. The preliminary design process for linear accelerator replacements within St. Luke's is ongoing. In addition, tenders for the main contract for the Beaumont phase 2 expansion and replacement project are due in the coming weeks. We are committed to improving cancer care and to investing in this way.”
“Under the national plan for radiation oncology, an equipment replacement programme is in place in St. Luke's in Rathgar, St. James's Hospital and Beaumont hospital, along with a phased expansion in Beaumont. The replacement programme is being progressed under the national development plan. It is included in the capital plan and the health sectoral plan. There are 23 linear accelerators, ranging in age from three to 18. These are located across five public hospitals: Rathgar, Beaumont, St. James's, Galway and Cork. State-of-the-art radiation oncology centres opened in Cork and Galway in 2019 and 2023 respectively, representing a €120 million capital investment. The linear accelerators in Rathgar, Beaumont and St. James's were installed between 2008 and 2016.”
“This is why I am putting in additional oncology chairs and surgical hubs in Letterkenny hospital to make sure there is better access. It is a combination of various things but as long as we are focused on what is different and why it is different, we are all likely to achieve a better and more consistent outcome.”
“This is very important. We have 58 seconds to have this conversation but it would be good to have a session at the Oireachtas health committee where we can go through all of the various regions and KPIs and recognise the variance. For example, we spoke in December about Galway, where there was a particular challenge. It reported 86% within the target in December, which was up from 68% in November. Local management is so important. Significant additional resources in terms of people and equipment are included in the annual plan and in the capital plan. Sometimes this is the issue and there is a question later on recruitment and replacement when we can deal with this. It is also about local management. Deputy Charles Ward spoke earlier about access to surgery.”
“Luke's hospital in Kilkenny, CUH, Waterford hospital and St. Luke's Hospital in Dublin, which are at less than 75% and this is not good enough. This is the sort of visibility and transparency we need, and we need to continue to drive to ensure everybody is at a rate of well over 95%. I recognise the variance in this.”
“The Deputy is right to highlight the variance. It is very different between hospitals. For example, the time for chemotherapy is within 15 days, which is so important. This information has been provided to him. In Cavan hospital, there were 174 patients and 174 of them were seen within 15 days. It was similar in Connolly hospital with 1,717 patients. Naas hospital is at 98%. I do not want to just highlight the good ones and I will pick at random. Tullamore hospital is at 93%, St. James's Hospital is at 91% and Drogheda hospital is at 83%. Then we get to Waterford hospital, which is at 66%, which is the area the Deputy represents. CUH is at 68%. There is variance. Most of the hospitals are concentrated at way over 85% and then there are hospitals such as Portiuncula hospital in Galway, St.”
“The cancer strategy had 52 recommendations, 43 of which have been delivered or continue to be in the process of being delivered, as will be the case to the end of the strategy. We want to reflect on and evaluate the strategy and its efficacy as we develop a new strategy. What will be very interesting, and where we are open to every suggestion, is how much the world has changed in terms of research and the role AI can play. Some of the extraordinary research being done in Galway, for example, is where they have learned to manipulate cancer cells against themselves and how this works. Treatment has become so individual and personalised. The next cancer strategy can be genuinely ambitious and different again, and I welcome every suggestion relating to it.”
“This is because we are living longer and we are diagnosing better, and we need to make sure that the services are available for them, for all of us and for everybody we represent who will face a cancer challenge at some point in their lives, particularly as we live longer. The Deputy is right to identify the strengths in some of the KPIs as well as the slippages in them. I certainly want to highlight both of these things. One of the reasons we are changing to this regional funding model is so we can have better regional transparency. It is correct that public representatives have the ability to see this regional variation and that there is a pressure linked to the performance framework in relation to the regions achieving the best performance and matching the best performance around the country.”
“I agree with the Deputy. The two strategies have changed the landscape for people who are diagnosed with cancer. Today nearly 250,000 people in Ireland are living with or beyond cancer, 50% more than a decade ago. The evidence is that the chances of survival for more than five years for someone diagnosed with cancer in the 1990s was considerably less than what it is now. This is on foot of the extraordinary work done by clinicians and researchers, and the way in which cancer services are delivered. This has enabled a very considerable shift. Nevertheless, we know we will have more and more people diagnosed with cancer in the years to come.”
“They have suggested to me that part of the graduation programme could be that qualifying dentists spend a period of time in the public system, something I would greatly welcome. It would give dentists who do not have an opportunity to train in public practice the opportunity to be in public practice. It is too private, too remote and too disconnected from the public health system. If part of the training was that we got the benefit of a graduate spending a year in the public system, I certainly would be very much in favour of that proposal.”
“I agree with the Deputy. At the moment I am trying to develop a programme with Pat Healy in the HSE, who is doing excellent work on a very targeted programme of intervention to get on top of screening in schools and make sure we can address the backlog, particularly in relation to orthodontic work and specialised orthodontic work. I have given a direction to all of the various regions that I expect our new surgical hubs to have a measure of dental capacity in them, whether it is once a month or whatever it happens to be, so that access to theatres is there equally for dentistry in the community and to ensure we have pathways. I acknowledge there is a considerable work to be done and I will bring forward a plan and proposals on this. I welcome the Deputy's engagement with the dental associations. We do need to hire more public dentists.”
“Direct access refers to the ability of a dental hygienist to initiate treatment within their scope of practice based on assessments of patients' needs without the specific authorisation of a dentist. That is a change I want to make to enable the workforce but that is for dental hygiene work not necessarily dental work. There is distinction, of course.”
“I agree with the Deputy. While the broad legislative suite is in place and there are existing powers are under the Dentists Act, I have no difficulty with a review and strengthening them where needed. I recognise the suite of legislative powers I outlined so we need to be very specific as to the additional powers necessary. I have no difficulty in strengthening the powers of the Dental Council of Ireland to do just that. We are talking about potentially unremediable assault on a person in their mouth or on their face. It is an appalling thing to happen to any person. We need to make sure the powers are as robust as necessary. There is simply no question on that. I signal a change I want to make to the Act to enable direct access for dental hygienists. That would require an amendment to section 54.”
“All suspected cases of illegal dental practice should be reported to An Garda Síochána. Unregistered individuals who treat patients while masquerading as dentists may also have committed assault under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 or have breached the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. Those offences carry significant penalties including imprisonment.”
“I have received Government approval for that policy along with consent to draft the general scheme of the Bill. My Department is now preparing the heads and associated regulatory assessments. We will deal with that in the Oireachtas in due course. With regard to unregistered dentists, powers to address the illegal practice of dentistry by unregistered individuals exist under the Dentists Act 1985 and other legislation. Under the Dentists Act it is an offence for unregistered persons to use the title of dentist to provide dental treatment or present themselves as dentists and the council may prosecute such cases. In addition, under the Consumer Protection Act 2007, the council can also seek court orders to stop dental practices from operating if they enable unregistered individuals to practice illegally.”
“There is no question but that the regulatory framework requires updating and modernisation. It is closely linked to the wider implementation of the national oral health policy. Ahead of comprehensive reform, several priority interim amendments have been identified particularly to strengthen the powers of the Dental Council of Ireland. The first amendment addresses the lack of a statutory basis for continuing professional development, as the Deputy highlighted. While dentists are currently required to meet ethical CPD standards of course, that is not enough and they must be underpinned by legislation. A policy has been developed to introduce CPD on a statutory footing, which will enhance the Dental Council of Ireland’s ability to ensure dentists undertake adequate and appropriate ongoing professional development.”
“Of course, we are learning more and more. We are seeing the different pathways now. The Deputy is right to identify that and I cannot answer that today. It needs more reflection. We can do that collectively over time. There is not the same imperative because we are driving ahead with investment in the Coombe as it is.”
“The Deputy is exactly right. Holles Street and Elm Park is settled. The question on Limerick forms part of what we are trying to do generally in Limerick and I would be happy to update the Deputy but our policy is very much the same in respect of colocation there. The Deputy is right to identify the Coombe, which is quite close to St. James's Hospital, where we are investing significant additional capacity at present. It is something I am now going to reflect on. I do not want to separate that yet but it is important that we do a detailed analysis of the needs of the Coombe, the adjacency of St. James's and what we have learned in relation to that. Back in 2013, 2014 and 2015, there were discussions about the necessity for trilocation and all those different efforts to try to put those pieces together.”
“The Deputy is correct that very little money was spent on the colocation of the Rotunda. However, an enormous amount of money has been spent on colocation policy generally in respect of Holles Street. That reflects the hierarchy of need. The need to move Holles Street was much greater because the patient safety need was much greater, the distance being greater between Holles Street and St. Vincent's than between the Rotunda and the Mater. That speaks to the priority placed on it.”
“I agree. Of course, the heritage consideration was the dominant one in that third round for the decision-making. It still remains of importance to that area. However, balancing the public interest is something we do all the time. Dublin City Council and the inspector took the view that in the previous application, the public interest was overwhelmingly served by progressing with it. The deciding body in the end decided in the opposite direction. In many ways, what we say here informs the public interest. We are the representatives of the public in what we say in relation to the importance of the care of women. Successfully and correctly delineating the Rotunda from the colocation policy, which is important for other hospitals, is a significant step in that. I do expect the application to be well supported in the broader public interest.”
“It enables us to remove that from the equation of a new planning application. The colocation question cannot be in the minds of anyone because it is delineated from that in that way. We are intending to go back with a bigger application directly to An Coimisiún Pleanála with critical care capacity for women and an enhanced sexual assault treatment unit. I want everybody here, which I know they will do, to make a statement that the Rotunda is for women in the city centre in every possible way. The Ministers, Deputies O'Callaghan and Chambers and myself will be backing that application and I am sure the Deputy will too.”
“What we have decided to do is enhance the application, to go bigger. We need critical care capacity onsite. From the perspective of patient safety, that enables me to say I am satisfied that the patient safety needs of women on that site are being yet better met. Already, of course, the Rotunda is practically beside the Mater and there are very good bluelight channels, as the Mater has said. No woman has died in the Rotunda in 20 years. It is a safe pathway already but it does need enhancement. That is why that critical care capacity for women as well as for neonates will form part of the new application. That enables us to delineate the Rotunda from the otherwise important colocation policy of having that critical care capacity for women closer, the case being Holles Street and the National Maternity Hospital.”
“I thank the Deputy. Just to clarify and for accuracy, I did not bring a memo to Government. That is only a technical point. The Deputy is quite right. What we have decided to do is reflect on the judgment and on the needs of women going forward. The needs of women going forward are for critical care capacity for neonates. I am sure the Deputy has been in the unit in the Rotunda Hospital. They do exceptionally good work but it is not in a suitable place for neonatal intensive care. The idea is to go back in with a new application. All of our options were considered in relation to whether to take a judicial review. That would mean going through an extensive legal process, potentially for two years, to go back into the same body. I am not sure that really meets the needs in any event.”
“This is from the perspective of the child and the time that they are waiting, and for the appropriate clinical and-or surgical intervention, and let us be at least on the same page, so that if it goes up, Deputies legitimately criticise me on behalf of the Government for that. At least let us speak the same language. The language that matters to a parent whose child is waiting for surgery is the length of time, and parents, I assure Deputies, are thoroughly unconcerned about the number of other people who also wait. The access to care for so very many is such an important issue and I commit to continuing to work on it month by month to deliver additional resources, services, and improvements. However, for this point on, I ask that we speak the same language on how we are measuring impact for individual patients.”
“The outpatient list has fallen since January 2025 from a waiting time of 9.7 months to 4.5 months in February 2026. That is a considerable improvement by anybody's standard, and that is because we are doing additional outpatient clinics. Because we are doing additional outpatient clinics, we are identifying more people who need surgery, so the waiting list goes up. This is really straightforward. It is the time that matters, and the time for surgery is also coming down from a weighted average of 6.2 months in January 2025 to 5.2 months in February 2026. Is that enough? No, I want to drive it further, but could we all speak the same language?”
“If my child needs complex scoliosis surgery, it is the timeliness, not the number of other people on the list, that matters. The number of people on the list is less important than the time they are waiting. The number of people on the list should be added to as the population grows and as diagnostics get better. If in a time of increasing population, increased diagnostics and additional Saturday outpatient clinics, our waiting lists do not increase, then we are doing something wrong. This is a basic tenet of how healthcare is delivered. It has to be quick. That is why Sláintecare sets timelines, not list lines around these things and it is really important that I update the House again on the time measures that are relevant to the individual patient.”
“I wanted to take both of these inquiries forward independent of Government, transparent and impactful on behalf of the people who very badly need them. I will speak to some of the issues in relation to scoliosis services and the improvements or the issues that are contained with them. Not every Deputy is here but I will carry on. There are four additional consultants, one of whom started in August and three of whom are starting in May, which is very significant additional capacity, as well as additional theatre capacity. The question of waiting lists versus waiting times was raised by Deputies Rice and Sherlock in particular. I would ask the following question: if you need a specified procedure, would you rather be one of ten patients waiting for a year or one of a hundred patients waiting for a month? The answer is so obvious.”
“I am very deliberately asking for a report from somebody who is independent of the Department of Health and of Government to engage and to look at all of the structures and to recommend to me how that be done. There is an interplay between the breadth we want to achieve, as mentioned by Deputies Rice and Paul Murphy, but also the timeliness. We do not want something that is going on as was referred to, for ten or 11 years, and we do want something that is legally robust. That is going to be a complex interplay and that is going to be something about which there is great capacity for disagreement such as on how it should be indexed. At the end of the day, I have to receive the recommendations and make an actual decision about how we take that forwar, rather than getting stuck in limbo forever in relation to it.”