My question is in regard to Naas General Hospital. Page 58 of the programme for Government refers to our hospitals, in particular accident and emergency services, and to reducing the time people have to wait. There is a crisis in the accident and emergency department in Naas General Hospital at present. While the staff are excellent, and I want to put that on record, in the past week more than 60 people have been on trolleys. One of the assessment clinics that was open 9 to 5 has been closed, apparently due to the lack of a doctor, which has added to the problems.

I will give one example. An 88 year old lady presented in accident and emergency and she was on a trolley for three nights. Over the following three nights, she was moved from ward to ward and she has now developed bed sores and is in huge pain. She is waiting for surgery and was told by the members of the orthopaedic unit in Tallaght who came to assess her that it should have happened last week. She has now been told she will have to wait another few weeks in hospital. It is a crisis. I invite the Minister to come and see what is happening.

I thank the Deputy for the question. Obviously, while any patient on a trolley is a patient too many, figures from the INMO and the HSE have shown a very significant reduction in the number of patients on hospital trolleys so far this year. I take seriously what Deputy O'Loughlin says in regard to Naas General Hospital. I will make inquiries in regard to the specific issue she has raised and I will revert to her directly. I have visited Naas General Hospital and I hope to visit again soon.