Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 190: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has received a proposal for the future of Nenagh General Hospital; her views on the Small Hospital, Big Service report; if she intends to implement the Hanly report in view of this report; if she will act positively towards the report and implement its recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12964/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have recently received the report, Small Hospital, Big Service, referred to by the Deputy, which was published by the Nenagh Hospital Action Group. The report will be examined by my Department and by the Health Service Executive in the context of its role in the management and delivery of health and social services.

The Report of the National Task Force on Medical Staffing, the Hanly report, made a series of important recommendations about the development of hospital services. These covered issues such as the changes needed in NCHD work patterns; the need for a significantly revised contract for medical consultants and an increase in the number of consultants; reform of medical education and training; and the reorganisation of acute hospital services. My Department is working closely with the HSE to build on, and progress, these recommendations. Negotiations in relation to NCHD work patterns and on a new contract for consultants have begun.

On 1 February 2006, together with the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, I announced details of a €200 million Government initiative for major reform of medical education and training from undergraduate level through to postgraduate specialist training. The reforms are based on the recommendations in the report of the postgraduate medical education and training group, chaired by Dr. Jane Buttimer, and the report of the working group on undergraduate medical education and training, chaired by Professor Pat Fottrell. These two reports make a series of comprehensive recommendations for the development and reform of medical education and is the most significant review of the medical education and training field ever undertaken in Ireland.

These measures, combined with ongoing investment in acute hospital facilities, extra consultant posts and the organisation of services around hospital networks, are designed to provide patients with faster access to high-quality consultant provided services. A new independent external review of all acute hospital services in the mid-west and how they can be developed in accordance with best practice has been approved by the Health Service Executive. The report undertaken by the Nenagh Hospital Action Group will be taken into account as a key component of the review process. The review is to be completed by the end of the year following which the findings will be published.