Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the mortality rates in the former coronary care unit at Roscommon County Hospital and the rates at University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7764/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Chief Medical Officer's office of my Department has been working on a report entitled Health Care Quality Indicators in the Irish Health System: Examining the Potential of Hospital Discharge Data. The focus of the report is the quality of the data not the care provided. One of the indicators examined in the report is derived from the hospital inpatient inquiry, or HIPE, data 2008-10 which recorded 30-day, in-hospital mortality rates following heart attack - that is acute myocardial infarction. This is the basis for the Deputy's question. It is important, therefore, that I restate what I said on 5 July 2011 which was: "Some of the statistics in the report, while rough, are so startling that they cannot be ignored." I further stated on 21 of July 2011:

I stand over these figures as does my Department and they will stand up to scrutiny because they were supplied through the HIPE data mix by the hospitals.

I take this opportunity to draw attention to a number of changes to the structures and services being delivered in Roscommon. Roscommon Hospital falls under the newly established governance structure of the Galway and Roscommon University Hospital group. As a model 2 hospital, Roscommon provides the majority of hospital activities including extended day surgery, selected acute medicine, local injuries, a large range of diagnostic services and palliative care. Future growth is planned in the areas of ambulatory care, including chronic disease management and day surgery, diagnostics and rehabilitation.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I thank the Minister. The statement he made on 5 July 2011 in the Dáil and on 21 July 2011 before the joint committee on mortality rates in the coronary care unit at Roscommon Hospital was as follows:

A patient attending Galway University Hospital has a 5.8% mortality rate compared with a 21.3% mortality rate in Roscommon, which is four times greater.

In his statement to the Seanad on 12 July Senator Crown stated that he had independently verified this data and that the figures that the Minister had provided to the Dáil were incorrect. When the correct figures are examined the average mortality rate for Roscommon Hospital between 2008 and 2010 is 4.92%. On this basis statistically Roscommon County Hospital was in fact a safer hospital in which to be treated than Galway, contrary to the Minister's comments. This was again acknowledged by Dr. Martin at the same meeting of the Oireachtas joint committee when she stated that subsequent analysis of the data compiled on Roscommon Hospital and work undertaken by the hospital highlighted limitations in the quality of data and had been more reassuring on the quality of care provided. The Minister needs to correct the record because what I have seen on the record is not correct.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I reiterate, "Some of the statistics in the report, while rough, are so startling that they cannot be ignored. They were gathered over the past three years, one set of statistics shows that a patient attending Galway University Hospital has a 5.8% mortality rate compared with a 21.3% mortality rate in Roscommon which is four times greater". That is what I said and I stand over it.

Since that time the number of people attending Roscommon Hospital has gone up. New surgeries and medical facilities are available. There is now plastic and reconstructive surgery present which commenced at the end of 2011 and was extended to two days a week. This service is growing with 50 patients booked for each day of the clinic, 100 patients per week, significantly improving access and reducing waiting times. Sleep studies commenced at Roscommon Hospital in March 2012 and already 204 patients have been assessed.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The urology services commenced at the hospital in May. I do not believe I have spoken for a minute. Have I?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I will just mention that there is an endoscopy suite, a radiology upgrade, dental service, nursing initiatives around nurse prescribing and nurse x-ray, a medical rehabilitation service, which will be founded there, and the Mayo-Roscommon Hospice met with the hospital group in June 2012 and is progressing with its plans.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Needless to say as someone who represents the constituency in which Roscommon Hospital is situated I welcome anything new that comes to the hospital. Of course I do. Why would I not? It is obviously to my benefit and that of my family, my neighbours and constituents. The Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, promised us at the last general election that our accident and emergency department would be safe. The Minister's comments and his failure to correct them in the Official Report has caused irreparable damage to the reputations of the medical clinicians, the staff and the hospital. I am now requesting that the Minister correct inaccurate statements made in the Dáil which would at least go some way to restoring the reputations damaged by his original misleading, inaccurate statements on this matter. That must be done because the Minister has done damage.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy knows full well he was at a meeting with HIQA and other representatives of his constituency, including Deputy Feighan, at which HIQA stated clearly that this service could not continue because it was not safe and furthermore it could not be made safe. During the course of that meeting the Deputy advised one of the officials of the HSE to go and get a rope and hang himself.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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How many times does the Minister have to say the same thing?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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For as long as the Deputy keeps bringing this up and misrepresenting the situation I will remind him of his own deficiencies and faults.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Does the Minister accept that he has deficiencies?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Absolutely.