Accident and emergency task force
Mattie McGrath criticises the composition of the emergency-department task force and cites trolley numbers at Clonmel hospital. The Taoiseach agrees to publish its membership and defends the members as clinical experts.
The Taoiseach did not answer my question about the task force on accident and emergency departments established by the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar. The wrong people are on the task force. There are 518 patients on hospital trolleys today. I visited my local hospital in Clonmel this morning where 13 patients were on trolleys. The wrong people are examining the problem and they will not sort it out because they are the problem. The right people must be on the task force if the problem is to be sorted out.
Comment on this
I will see to it that the names of the personnel who serve on the task force are published on the Department's website. The individuals in question are all experts in various clinical areas.
Comment on this
That is the problem. The task force members are all experts, rather than ordinary people who could implement the necessary changes.