James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

However, the Deputy is quite right to mention Louth County Hospital because it exemplifies what is achievable in a smaller hospital and how no longer having a 24-hour emergency department does not mean one's hospital does not remain vibrant and a source of great service to its community. As the Deputy noted, approximately 1,000 cataract operations have been carried out there where none was performed previously, as well as 3,000 colonoscopies, several thousand phlebotomies, while more care of the elderly cases have been looked after, more surgery, more day cases and so on. I perceive the future for smaller hospitals to lie in the provision of a safe service in good surroundings by caring and highly professional staff.

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