Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I first apologise for the Minister, Deputy Harris. I will deal with this issue.

I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising this important issue because for many years he has been a strong advocate for developing our health services and putting forward sensible suggestions. I strongly take his views on board. I am grateful to Deputy Tóibín for giving me the opportunity to update the House on accident and emergency services in County Meath. Tackling the challenges in emergency departments generally is a key commitment of the Government and I am delighted that €40 million in additional funding has been made available in 2017 as part of the 2018 budget to address winter pressures and waiting lists. That funding will be aimed at reducing overcrowding in our hospitals in this period through the provision of extra capacity and additional supports.

Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan provides a general acute hospital service to the catchment area of Meath and currently provides accident and emergency services in County Meath. Since 2013, the hospital has been part of the Ireland East Hospital Group. Every hospital in that group, large or small, has a vital role to play, with the smaller hospitals such as Navan managing routine, urgent or planned care locally, while more complex care is managed in the larger hospitals and with better linkages with primary, continuing and social care. As a smaller hospital, the challenge is to make sure that Navan provides more of the right type of services for the people of Meath, which can be safely be delivered in order that we maximise the benefit to all patients.

To ensure that the hospital continues to play a significant role in the Ireland East Hospital Group in providing sustainable, safe and effective care at the appropriate level of complexity, a number of developments already have been funded at Navan hospital in recent years. In addition to the refurbishment of the emergency department, there has been an upgrade of general theatres, an upgrade of the sterile services unit, the addition of new end-of-life care family rooms and a garden within the hospital, as well as an allocation of capital funding of €755,000 for the replacement of various equipment. There has also been an increase in day surgical activity, with surgeons from the Mater Hospital carrying out day surgery in Navan. Further developments regarding surgery and other clinical services at Navan are being considered by Ireland East Hospital Group.

The HSE has advised that there are no immediate plans to change the current emergency service configuration of services at Navan. The Ireland East Hospital Group is engaged in a programme of redesign work to further integrate and enhance the role of Navan hospital as a constituent hospital within the hospital group. The hospital group is continuing to engage closely with all interested parties to ensure that the needs of patients, staff and the local and wider community are addressed. Any changes to the emergency department services in Meath would only occur following consultation with key stakeholders, including health professionals at the hospital and other hospitals in the hospital groups, the National Ambulance Service, and community and public representatives.

See this speech in context