Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I will respond on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. As Deputy Carey is aware, the provision of services at Ennis General Hospital and the mid-west in general is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. One of the priorities of the Government and the HSE is to improve the delivery of accident and emergency services. Considerable improvements in the delivery of such services have been made over the last two years. Medical and paramedical experts consistently advise that all major trauma cases should be transported to regional trauma centres. International and national evidence has shown that trauma victims have a better chance of survival and recovery when they are treated at specialist centres. Over the years, many senior consultants in Ennis, Limerick and Nenagh have expressed their desire for best international practice in this regard to be introduced in the mid-west.

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