Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I am speaking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, who is unavailable.

There are no plans at present to alter the services provided by the Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar. The report of the national task force on medical staffing, the Hanly report, deals with the reorganisation of acute hospital services in two regions, the East Coast Area Health Board and the Mid-Western Health Board. A second report will consider the role of acute hospital services in the rest of the country, taking account of the principles set out in the Hanly report. It is anticipated the Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar will be examined in this context.

The Hanly report addresses the need to improve patient care, reform medical education and training, and support the continued provision of safe, high quality acute hospital care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The report sets out the measures needed to comply with the EU working time directive by reducing the working hours of junior doctors and introducing a consultant-provided service. No viable alternative has been advanced.

Implementation of the principles set out in the Hanly report will mean a better service for patients. It involves harnessing the contribution of all our hospitals and providing a wider range of appropriate services and procedures in local hospitals. The report states that a full range of acute hospital services should be available within each region, so that patients should not have to travel outside other than for specialised supra-regional or national specialty services.

The Hanly report recommends investment in local hospitals to provide more services for patients, including elective medical and surgical procedures, out-patient services, pre- and post-natal maternity services and better access to diagnostic facilities.

Implementation of the Hanly report, in conjunction with the development of acute bed capacity and appropriate resourcing and reform of ambulance services, will mean hospital services are provided in the most appropriate setting. It will ensure that all patients, wherever they live, have equitable and rapid access to high quality emergency care.