As I have already stated in the House, a Supplementary Estimate will be introduced to take account of increased allocations to all the health board agencies and voluntary hospitals. This is being introduced following the flu epidemic. As I have indicated it will come before the House in the next couple of weeks. The number of beds in use in any health board area is, of course, a matter for the individual health board. In the Deputy's case it will be a matter for the Southern Health Board.
With regard to the question of consultants' profiteering from the long waiting lists, I am always anxious to get evidence of this. I would be very pleased to receive the evidence from Deputy Allen and I will investigate it. Admissions to public hospitals should be on the basis of need. If patients decide to go into a private hospital that is their own business but admissions to public hospitals must be on the basis of need and must be seen to be on the basis of need.