Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree with anything the Deputy said. When people want responsibility to be devolved to the regions rather than exercised centrally, they must seize this responsibility. I have given the Saolta hospital group approval for the appraisal, if it ever needed it, and an assurance that the Department will meet the funding costs required to carry out a proper detailed appraisal. It will not only consider what projects need to be done immediately - some must be done and others have already been done - but will make a proper assessment of the planning and development of health services in Galway, which is a vibrant city and large county.

I acknowledge some of the progress that has been made by front-line staff and management in University Hospital Galway in recent times. The hospital is a pilot site for the national patient flow improvement programme and patient experience times have improved. For example, compliance with patient experience times for all patients of less than 24 hours in the emergency department increased from 93% to 98%. For those patients aged 75 years or older, compliance increased from 75% to 85% within the same period. That is not something to write home or get excited about but it shows that targeted investment in pilot projects is leading to improvements.

The new 75-bed ward block has been opened and 30 additional beds opened in early 2016 as part of the winter beds initiative. A new clinical research facility has been delivered, the maternity unit has been upgraded and a cystic fibrosis outpatient department was completed in 2014. I agree that a master plan is required and look forward to receiving it.

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