Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I apologise for the absence of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I will take this adjournment matter on her behalf.

The aforementioned Teamwork Management Services Limited report, Improving Safety and Achieving Better Standards, which was prepared for the Health Service Executive, found that the present system in the north east, whereby five local hospitals deliver acute care to a relatively small population, is exposing patients to increased risks. The report recommended a three-strand action plan comprising the development of a new regional acute hospital; the development of local services with the existing five hospitals and primary and community care providers playing central roles; and the development of a series of clinical networks to bind local and regional services to the needs of patients, including networks for emergency care, surgery and critical care.

The hospital reconfiguration process is being overseen by the HSE steering group. Following a tendering process, the HSE appointed a firm of consultants to carry out an independent site location study for the new regional hospital. The Department has been advised by the HSE that it anticipates the consultants' report will be completed in February. The report then will be considered by the board of the HSE.

The first priority in the development of a fully integrated regional health service is to ensure that the people of the north east have local access to both routine planned care and immediate life-saving emergency care. In the next few years, in preparation for all acute emergency inpatient care and complex planned care being provided at a regional centre, the existing five hospitals will continue to provide services that meet the majority of health needs of the community. The HSE has given an assurance that, in progressing the implementation of the Teamwork report, there will be no discontinuation of existing services until suitable alternative arrangements have been put in place.

With regard to recent reports in the media concerning services in the north east, the HSE has advised the Department that no decisions have been taken regarding a reduction in services in the region. The HSE has indicated it is facing a challenging year and is exploring how best to deliver services within budget. Senior managers in the north east met recently to discuss the budget for 2008 and how services could be delivered. The document which was leaked to the media is a "draft internal document arising from that meeting which sets out certain options for consideration".

The HSE has advised that it expects to be in a position by mid-February to be more definite about service provision for the year. I acknowledge the valid points of Senators Wilson and O'Reilly and I will deliver their message to the Minister.