Ms Kate Killeen White:

As part of the reconfiguration of our health services, we are reconfiguring our model of services in the south east and in south Tipperary around what we are classing as the community healthcare network. That network will be the building block for the delivery of services. On top of that, we will develop the chronic disease teams to include pathways of care for respiratory illness, diabetes and cardiac matters, in addition to development of our integrated care programme for older people, ICPOP, teams. That is the direction of travel in the development of community services. As I said, St. Brigid's campus, including the primary care centre and St. Brigid's hospital, are being utilised for the purpose of delivery of our community healthcare services.

I will also mention that the recently built 20-bed south east palliative care centre the Deputy referenced is located on the grounds of University Hospital Waterford. This is the first inpatient and day service specialist palliative care unit. It serves the south-east region, including south Tipperary. That centre will be the hub for palliative care in the south east and will build on the existing consultant-led, integrated model of care in place across acute hospitals and our community healthcare services. Staff based at this centre will support the community specialist palliative care teams the Deputy mentioned, and the primary care teams across the south east, including in south Tipperary.

That is the direction of travel. We are doing everything we can to work with the population in the south east to deliver the kind of care we know people there want in premises that are suitable and in line with our Safer Better Healthcare guidelines, and our regulatory and statutory requirements right across the board. My colleagues, Ms Walsh or Ms McDaid, might like to come in on that.