Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators Twomey and McDonald for raising what obviously is an important issue for them and County Wexford. On behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, I will ensure the issues raised will revert directly to her. I reiterate that the Government is committed to ensuring the delivery of the best quality health service as possible and providing the highest possible standard of patient care in an effective and efficient manner within the resources available.

Wexford General Hospital plays an important part in the HSE south-east hospital network and there are no plans to lessen its importance in the provision of services. It provides acute services for a local population of 130,000 people. It benefits from a committed workforce who in 2010, in line with the hospital service plan, will provide services for approximately 13,000 inpatients, 6,700 day patients, 36,000 emergency department attendees and 2,300 mothers who will give birth in the maternity unit. In addition, it deals with more than 56,000 outpatient attendees each year. It has strong partnerships with colleagues working in the primary, community and continuing care sectors and aims to provide patients with fully integrated services.

In accordance with its transformation programme, the HSE is reviewing the current configuration of acute hospital services in the south east. A steering group is developing a plan for hospital reconfiguration that will deliver optimal and cost-effective services that are easily and readily accessible. The group comprises four clinical directors, one from each hospital, as well as the hospital network manager, and is supported by specialist advisory groups. All hospitals in the south eastern hospital group, namely, Wexford General Hospital, Waterford Regional Hospital, South Tipperary General Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, will be included in the plan for the revised model of care. No decisions on the roles of or services provided in any hospital will be taken until the plan is completed, following broad consultation within the services and with stakeholders generally. The review is expected to be completed and proposals brought forward later in the year.

The Government has shown its commitment to Wexford General Hospital in recent years with capital developments such as a new day oncology unit, an education centre and on-call accommodation. The hospital will continue to play a key role in the provision of hospital services in the south east.