Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Acting Chairman and the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the important issue of South Tipperary General Hospital. It employs 450 people and has a 275 bed capacity. More than 1,100 babies were delivered there last year and the level of surgical procedures, including day cases, is extremely high.

As a teaching hospital which has worked to incorporate changes in work practice and medical standards and has taken on various services following amalgamation with Our Lady's Hospital in Cashel, South Tipperary General Hospital has excelled at every level. The amalgamation was a major process which took many years and only concluded after the Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel, support group took a case to the High Court and secured an agreement.

Now, many years after this amalgamation, serious concerns are being expressed to me by my constituents with regard to surgery and maternity services at the hospital. There is great fear among the community. People are extremely anxious at the prospect of losing some of the many services currently available at South Tipperary General Hospital. Already cancer services have been moved, with little notice, to Waterford Regional Hospital. Many people supported this particular decision but they are now dissatisfied with the services that were put in place in Waterford. The concern is that more services will be transferred in the same manner.

The level of efficiency South Tipperary General Hospital has achieved is exceptional. It works extremely well with community services, the acute care service is particularly good and the maternity service was deemed the second best in the State by patients. A High Court case was brought to ensure the retention of services at the hospital when changes were made to the level of services at Our Lady's Hospital in Cashel. The local community is of the view that South Tipperary General Hospital is performing well, efficiently and with a genuine vision for the future.

Will the Minister of State clarify the situation for hospital staff, patients and the community in south Tipperary? Will he indicate the Government's future intentions for the hospital? Some weeks ago, a public meeting was held in Clonmel. The attendance and level of community awareness indicated the degree of concern among locals.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The Government is committed to ensuring the delivery of the best quality health services possible in an effective and efficient way. Ensuring patient safety is of paramount importance, so that people can have confidence in the services and that the best possible patient outcomes will be achieved. It is essential that we prioritise patient safety and quality and that we organise and manage services accordingly. The priority is to provide safe services as close as possible to where people live.

The Minister is committed to ensuring the future viability of South Tipperary General Hospital as a health care facility, and the Health Service Executive is working in this policy context. Beds in the hospital continue to be utilised on a clinical needs basis and general surgery, maternity services and a 24-hour emergency service continue to be provided.

South Tipperary General Hospital is a 253-bed hospital providing acute services for a catchment population of some 135,000 in south Tipperary and the bordering areas of north Tipperary and west Waterford. Acute hospital services in south Tipperary were amalgamated in South Tipperary General Hospital in January 2007, following a major capital development to facilitate the transfer of accident and emergency, general surgery and oncology services from Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel, to Clonmel. The amalgamation process was undertaken successfully and resulted in much improved service delivery arrangements which are beneficial for both patients and health service staff.

As part of the Health Service Executive's transformation programme, the configuration of acute hospital services will continue to be reviewed in respect of quality, safety and efficiency. In this context, it is likely that the services delivered by hospitals will change to reflect a more developed primary care structure, closer integration between acute, primary and community care services at local level and more concentration of complex acute care in regional centres. The Minister is satisfied that, in this context, South Tipperary General Hospital will continue to play a valuable and significant role in the delivery of health services to its catchment population.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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There was a great deal in that reply.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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It is all good news.