Trolley figures do not tell full story: Leo Varadkar

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has claimed the emergency department trolley crisis figures “do not tell the full story” of the system and suggested deregistering failing hospitals if his party is re-elected to government.

The Fine Gael TD made the comments yesterday alongside Taoiseach Enda Kenny at the launch of his party’s €2bn health plan for the next five years.

Under the proposed measures, the Government party wants to extend free GP care to anyone under the age of 18; ringfence €50m to tackle hospital waiting lists; introduce a long-called-for five-year health budget to properly plan services; and impose a 10c sugar tax on soft drinks.