Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the discussions she has had with the Health Service Executive in relation to the development of acute hospital services in the north east region, including the recommendations of the teamwork report, Improving Safety and Achieving Better Standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29605/06]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the discussions she has had with the Health Service Executive in relation to the development of acute hospital services in the north east region, including the recommendations of the teamwork report, Improving Safety and Achieving Better Standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29293/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 176 together.

The HSE has recently established a Steering Group and a North East Project Group to oversee a programme designed to improve safety and standards across the acute hospital network in the North East Region. The decision was taken having regard to the issues raised in the report prepared for the HSE by Teamwork Management Services - "Improving Safety and Achieving Better Standards - An Action Plan for Health Services in the North East" and taking account of the findings of the recent report into the death of Mr. Patrick J Walsh.

Led by the HSE's National Hospitals Office, the Steering Group has representation from key stakeholders such as clinicians and primary care providers. The Project Group is being led by a Consultant Surgeon from outside the Region.

I am familiar with the Teamwork Report, the contents of which have been discussed with the Executive. The findings in the Report have also been brought to the attention of the Government.

The Teamwork Report makes a number of short, medium and long-term recommendations. It concludes that the present system, where five local hospitals deliver acute care to relatively small populations, is exposing patients to increased risks and creating additional professional risks for staff. The Report highlights the need to develop a high quality and responsive emergency and planned service, in line with international standards, by developing local services within existing hospitals and other local centres supported by a new Regional Hospital.