Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I will not have time to respond to all the points made by Deputy Ó Caoláin, although I will bear them in mind. In November 2004, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland issued a report on surgical services at Cavan General Hospital which, it said, were "dysfunctional". The Health Service Executive has since been addressing the issues identified in the report, in consultation with the college of surgeons, with a view to ensuring patient safety, higher standards of clinical care, maximum utilisation of all resources on both sites and local accessibility. The HSE has recruited three new permanent consultant surgeons to replace locums at Cavan and Monaghan, bringing to five the number of surgeons employed in the hospital group. It is intended that all emergency and major elective surgery should be carried out at Cavan General Hospital. Monaghan General Hospital will become the centre for all day cases and diagnostic surgical work in the Cavan and Monaghan hospital group. A consultant surgeon is to be available on site at Monaghan General Hospital on a five-day basis from Monday to Friday. General practitioners in Monaghan are to be facilitated in gaining immediate access for urgent cases to the outpatient department facilities at Monaghan General Hospital.

The Health Service Executive is satisfied that implementation of these recommendations will result in a significant increase in the level of surgical activity at Monaghan General Hospital and more efficient use of the personal facilities available on the site. Subject to approval by the HSE, it is anticipated that the additional beds and a theatre planned for Cavan General Hospital will be commissioned by 2007.

I have not had a chance to examine this report other than to read quickly through the major series of recommendations concerning surgical services at Cavan and Monaghan announced by the National Hospitals Office and the Royal College of Surgeons. I understand that this has long been discussed by them. It is the view of the hospitals office of the HSE and the unanimous view of the Royal College of Surgeons that this is the right thing to do for patient safety, and they have made that decision.

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