James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I am fully aware of the recommendations of HIQA with regard to Ennis hospital and its subsequent report on Mallow General Hospital. Both reports deal with the types of service that can safely be provided in smaller hospitals and with the structures required for good governance and accountability within our hospitals. The report on Mallow reiterates the implications of the Ennis report for all hospitals of a similar size. I have said on many occasions that local hospitals can and should be a vibrant element of local health services, providing treatment and care at an appropriate level of complexity to patients in their areas. I have also said I will not stand over unsafe care that puts patients at risk.

The recommendations in these HIQA reports need to be implemented in order to ensure the standards of care delivered in smaller hospitals are as high as possible and that the type of care provided is appropriate to the clinical setting and to the needs of patients. I have had a number of meetings with clinicians and officials in my Department and the HSE about the progress being made in implementing the HIQA recommendations both generally and in specific hospitals. I intend to keep myself fully briefed about ongoing developments.

The Government is strongly committed to developing the role of smaller hospitals in Ireland so they play a key part in the services provided to local communities. Patients should need to travel to the larger hospitals only for more complex services. HIQA's reports on Ennis and Mallow are entirely in keeping with this approach.

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