Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive has responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Issues relating to the provision of acute hospital services in the north east have been the subject of much debate in the House in recent years. There has been a number of reviews carried out on hospital services in the north east. These have included North East Hospitals — the Next Five Years, published in 1998, Report on Maternity Services in the North Eastern Health Board, published in 2000, Risk Assessments on the Cavan/Monaghan and Louth/Meath Hospital Groups, published in 2001, Maternity Services Review Group to the North Eastern Health Board, published in 2001 and Comhairle na nOspidéal Report on Maternity and Related Services in the North Eastern Health Board Area, published in 2003. In addition, there has been a number of hospital-specific reviews and reports carried out by bodies such as the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Medical Council, and by external risk assessors and consultants.

Earlier this year the HSE commissioned Teamwork Management Services to undertake a comprehensive review of acute hospital services in the north east and to provide an action plan for achieving the best possible acute care for patients in the region. The terms of reference for the review were to determine with reference to international best practice the optimal configuration of hospital services and consultant staffing for the geographic area and population of the north east which will provide safe, sustainable, cost-effective and high quality services and take account of the existing transport infrastructure and the availability of services in adjacent areas; to evaluate the benefits and risks associated with current provision of acute hospital services on five sites serving a population of approximately 350,000; to review the current capacity, usage and deployment of consultants, beds, theatres, day case, outpatient, accident and emergency, diagnostic and other facilities in the hospitals in the region and compare them to international norms; to consider the current and potential contribution of primary care services, including out-of-hours GP services, ambulance and advanced paramedical services in reducing risk to patients; to take account of current and projected demographic trends affecting the north east; and to make recommendations to the CEO of the HSE on the above considerations, including short-term and long-term recommendations on the future configuration of acute hospital services and consultant staffing, which will minimise risk to patients and provide high quality and safe services to patients with reference to international best practice.

The review began in March 2006 and has recently been completed. The report, entitled Improving Safety and Achieving Better Standards — An Action Plan for Health Services in the North East, was received and endorsed by the board of the HSE last week.

The CEO of the HSE has been instructed by the board to engage with staff and other stakeholders in the north east during the coming weeks. The manner and timing of publication of the report is a matter for the HSE.

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