Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

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

The HSE established a steering group and a project group to oversee a programme designed to improve safety and standards for patients in the north east region. The decision was taken having regard to the issues raised in the report prepared for the HSE by Teamwork Management Services, Improving Safety and Achieving Better Standards — An Action Plan for Health Services in the North East.

The Teamwork report made a number of recommendations to improve patient care in the region. The report identifies the need to develop a high quality, responsive emergency and planned service, in line with international standards, by developing appropriate services as close to local populations as possible. This will be supported by a new regional hospital. In keeping with the Teamwork report the HSE intends to establish a regional accident and emergency trauma unit that will ultimately be based at the new regional hospital. The HSE advises that accident and emergency services are provided at present at Louth County Hospital by non-consultant hospital doctors with a sessional consultant commitment from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

In advance of the development of the new hospital, it is the HSE's intention over the next number of years to develop ambulance and emergency services in the North East. This will include the training of advanced paramedics and advanced nurse practitioners. It will also necessitate improving facilities and services at Drogheda, while urgent care facilities will be developed at Dundalk.

It is intended, when the new regional hospital is established, that Louth County Hospital will retain this urgent care service, providing a service to a very significant proportion of patients from Dundalk. To this end a new computed tomography scanner is being installed in Dundalk next month and will be operational shortly thereafter. Two new modular theatres will open in April and the HSE will continue to invest in Louth County Hospital to provide the best and most appropriate service to the people of the area.

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