John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The message in this respect could not be more clear. The hospital provides acute hospital services jointly with St. Vincent's University Hospital and St. Michael's Hospital in Dún Laoghaire. This reorganisation does not represent a downgrading of the hospital in Loughlinstown but a reconfiguration of services. The Deputy does not appear to have heard clearly the message contained in the reply. This reorganisation of services is in the interests of patient safety and providing a better service. It is planned to proceed with the reorganisation of services on publication of the report.

The Deputy may be a little peeved that he was not at the meeting, but the fact is that the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, is doing an outstanding job in the reconfiguration of hospitals. I am familiar with this issue from the perspective of the status of the regional hospital in Sligo which covers a vast region. There are three hospitals and under the plan, there will be a reconfiguration of services and a defining of the services to be delivered in each hospital. This is a very intelligent plan, about which I would not be as pessimistic as the Deputy. When he has read the publication, he will note the opportunity the reconfiguration of services presents.

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