Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Roscommon County Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe are closely linked and many consultant appointments are shared between the two hospitals. The HSE aims to maximise the range and volume of surgery and other services in each of the two hospitals by developing greater collaboration between them. This is designed to increase access by patients in Roscommon and east Galway-west midlands to high quality services locally.

The HSE has decided to create a joint department of surgery-anaesthetics between Portiuncula Hospital and Roscommon County Hospital, with shared consultant appointments. There are no plans to discontinue any surgical services at either facility. The HSE, in consultation with the staff in both hospitals is working out an implementation plan to give effect to this decision. The objective is to provide an appropriate structure for a high quality, sustainable and, above all, safe service for the people of the area in the future.

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