Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Grealish for raising this issue. Approval was given in May 2017 to the Saolta University Health Care Group, which oversees the hospital system in the west and north west of the country, to conduct an options appraisal for future acute hospital needs in Galway. As the Deputy in aware, the Galway University Hospitals operate over two sites, including the model 4 hospital and the Merlin Park site. It is important that services planning is done in an integrated manner between both sites.

As part of the options appraisal the Saolta group will undertake a medium-term planning project to assess the population health needs for the hospital catchment area to inform existing and future service needs. The assessment will provide an options appraisal for the infrastructural requirements needed in Galway to facilitate the delivery of safe high-quality timely acute elective and cancer care for patients throughout the west and north west. This assessment will outline a comprehensive plan to address requirements for unscheduled and scheduled cancer and maternity-paediatric care, including key enabling diagnostic and support functions. The new emergency department block envisaged under Project Ireland 2040 will also be considered in the context of the options appraisal.

Saolta University Health Care Group has advised that the options appraisal will be completed in the first quarter of 2019. I am advised by the HSE that there are no specific plans at present to develop a minor injuries unit at Merlin Park. However, there is continued focus on ensuring that Merlin Park capacity is used to ease pressure on emergency acute and complex elective care at University Hospital Galway, which is the issue Deputy Grealish is raising. The Galway University Hospitals continue to review patient services suitable for transfer to Merlin Park. Similarly, administrative logistical and support functions that are not location-sensitive may be redeveloped at Merlin Park University Hospital.

I am also advised that Saolta University Health Care Group is working with the HSE to examine the potential for development of a day services hospital block at Merlin Park subject to the usual capital approval processes. A full appraisal is under way. It is to be finalised in the first quarter of next year. The issue Deputy Grealish has raised today will be very much factored into those considerations.

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