Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I will address the Deputy's concern in a moment. The Teamwork report included a number of recommendations to improve patient care in the region. It specifically highlighted the need to develop a high quality, responsive emergency and planned service in line with international standards. It recommended that there be one major regional hospital in the north east supported by five local hospitals. The new hospital is to provide emergency and trauma services on a 24-hour basis and planned specialist procedures which are complex and require the facilities of a large regional hospital.

The hospital reconfiguration process is being overseen by the HSE steering group which is leading the project. No decision has been made to date on the location of the new hospital. A sub-committee of the steering group has been established to progress the issue of site selection. A consultancy is to be awarded shortly for an independent site location study. The study will take account of various criteria, including demographics, access, planning and development considerations and interdependencies. The HSE expects the consultancy will be awarded by the end of March, with an eight-week timeframe thereafter to undertake the study and produce a report for the executive recommending a location for the new hospital.

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