Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I am responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Reilly. I thank Deputy O'Brien for raising the issue. The Minister recently asked the HSE to identify any cases in which it plans to withdraw services from individual acute hospitals in the coming months and to brief the Minister on the circumstances and implications in each case. I assure the Deputy that this is not a smokescreen. The Minister has made it quite clear that he wants the HSE to set out its intentions in an up-front and clear manner. Pending such a briefing, the Minister has asked the HSE not to withdraw or transfer any acute services. If the HSE considers that a change in service arrangements is urgently needed in an individual case, the Minister has required the HSE to inform him of the reasons for this and the steps being taken.

In May 2010, as part of a wider plan to organise acute hospital services in the Cork and Kerry region in the safest and most efficient way, the HSE announced its intention to relocate orthopaedic services, including elective inpatient, rehabilitation, trauma and day surgery, from St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital to the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. This would involve the establishment of a new paediatric orthopaedic service in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital to cater for the needs of children from the region who currently attend Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin. The proposals involve the retention of remaining services, such as mental health, intellectual disability, ambulance, outreach maternity and health centre services, at the St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital campus. They also involve the provision of a new community nursing unit to provide 30 replacement and 20 new residential places for older people.

The Minister will discuss these issues with the HSE in the context of the provision of acute hospital services in a clinically appropriate and efficient manner. Pending the completion of this process, there will be no change to the current service arrangements at St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital. I take the Deputy's point that the undertaking of reviews while work is ongoing can be a self-fulfilling operation. I will relay that point to the Minister, Deputy Reilly.

The Minister will discuss these issues with the HSE in the context of the provision of acute hospital services in a clinically appropriate and efficient manner. Pending the completion of this process, there will be no change to the current service arrangements at St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital. I take the Deputy's point that the undertaking of reviews while work is ongoing can be a self-fulfilling operation. I will relay that point to the Minister, Deputy Reilly.

The Minister will discuss these issues with the HSE in the context of the provision of acute hospital services in a clinically appropriate and efficient manner. Pending the completion of this process, there will be no change to the current service arrangements at St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital. I take the Deputy's point that the undertaking of reviews while work is ongoing can be a self-fulfilling operation. I will relay that point to the Minister, Deputy Reilly.

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