Junior Minister Kathleen Lynch has defended the policy of moving patients in hospital Emergency Departments onto trolleys in wards.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has implemented the policy for the busy Winter period.

Minister Lynch says moving elderly and other vulnerable people onto calmer wards - even on trolleys - is preferable to them staying in chaotic emergency rooms.

Labour Minister Lynch has outlined her grand plan for primary healthcare on Newstalk Breakfast: 

The Minister outlined her vision for a separate Department of Social and Primary Care that separates out what you do in the community from what happens in hospital.