James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The closure of Mount Carmel Hospital has left its patients in an uncertain situation. As the Deputies have said, it will result in job losses. As a doctor and as Minister for Health, my primary concern must be the provision of quality care to patients. The HSE is continuing to work with the hospital to ensure patients' choices are respected, their immediate needs are met and there is a seamless transfer to another hospital. As a Government Minister, I am disappointed at the loss of jobs in Mount Carmel Hospital. I recognise that this is a difficult time for the staff. We will endeavour to support staff in their efforts to secure alternative employment. I have been informed by the HSE that an active process in that regard is ongoing as we speak. Many workers in the hospital have particular expertise that is highly sought after in the public system.

As the House will be aware, following receipt of correspondence, a high-level examination was undertaken to assess the feasibility of the purchase of the hospital by the State as a going concern, taking account of the impact its closure might have on maternity service capacity. All evidence shows that birth rates have fallen significantly in recent years. According to the projections of the Central Statistics Office, they will continue to fall until the early 2020s, at least. In view of this evidence, the purchase of Mount Carmel Hospital could not be justified on the basis of a perceived deficit in maternity services capacity. We believe that any available funding would be more appropriately used to resource our current maternity services to ensure they can cope with any additional demand. As I announced in May of last year, it is intended to move the National Maternity Hospital from Holles Street and to co-locate it on the St. Vincent's University Hospital campus. This project, together with the development of the new maternity hospital that is to be tri-located on the St. James's Hospital campus, will give us an opportunity to provide additional capacity in the longer term if required.

The Deputies will be aware that one of my priorities as Minister for Health is the development of excellence in patient care and safety, thereby leading to better outcomes. It is recognised that for optimal clinical outcomes, maternity services should be co-located with adult acute services, and in the case of neonatology and foetal medicine should be tri-located with adult and paediatric services. There should also be a high volume of patient throughput in accordance with international norms. A low-volume, stand-alone maternity hospital such as Mount Carmel Hospital does not allow for this.

Mount Carmel Hospital provides other inpatient services apart from maternity services. As others have said, during 2013 the HSE secured additional treatment capacity as necessary in Mount Carmel Hospital, as well as in other public and private hospitals. It is important to note that the projected number of treatments outsourced in these facilities represents less than 1% of the total number of annual scheduled outpatients appointments and less than 0.5% of the total number of inpatient and day-case appointments undertaken nationally. The HSE will continue to avail of the support and services offered by other public and private facilities where capacity is required and available.

As I have said, I am committed to improving patient safety and outcomes across all areas of the health service. In this regard and with particular reference to maternity services, my Department is developing a new national maternity strategy which will determine the future model of services to ensure women have access to safe high-quality maternity care. This strategy will reflect the best available evidence to ensure all pregnant women can make appropriate and informed choices and can access the right level of care and support 24 hours a day. Arrangements are being made with alternative hospitals to ensure as seamless a transition as possible for the patients of Mount Carmel Hospital in accordance with their choices. All inpatients who are currently in the hospital will continue to receive all necessary and appropriate care until they are discharged.

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