ICU capacity
Deputy Stanley asked for increased ICU capacity in line with the programme for Government and noted reliance on private hospitals during the pandemic. The Taoiseach thanked him and moved on after the time expired.
That is disgraceful. I would not expect that from-----
Comment on this
We have not accepted all pay rises in the past four years, or the past three years. That is a fact. I have proof on my phone and I will show it to the Taoiseach after the session if he wants to see it.
The issue I want to raise concerns increasing our ICU capacity, which is the lowest in the European Union. On page 47 of the programme for Government, there is a commitment to increase that capacity. We need to do so within the public system. There was a temporary increase owing to bringing private hospital capacity into the public system. We supported that at the time as an emergency measure but we have only six intensive care beds per 100,000 of the population. That is half the European average. Tullamore hospital, for example, has four permanent intensive care beds while Portlaoise has only two. The catchment area of those hospitals is 200,000. This is a dangerous set of circumstances, particularly as we move into the winter period. There was an increase in March and April. How much of this has been retained? What are we doing to increase capacity permanently in order to have a sufficient number of beds in the public system? I ask this question sincerely because this is life-and-death stuff.
