Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce routine screening for urea electrolytes, creats and liver abnormalities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6196/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have no plans to introduce routine population screening for urea electrolytes, creats and liver abnormalities. If there is clinical suspicion of liver or kidney disease then it is good clinical practice to conduct these tests. However, there is currently no evidence to support population screening for these diseases.

My Department continues to keep evidence and practice in other countries under review and is actively considering the most appropriate ways to monitor new developments in screening and how they should be evaluated.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the services currently being provided at Monaghan General Hospital; the changes she will make to the provision of services in the short and long term; the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6221/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive advises that Monaghan General Hospital provides the following range of services:

General Medicine

Day Surgery

Gynaecology (Out-Patient And Day Gynaecology)

High Dependency/Special Care/Coronary Care

Day Services

Treatment Room Services

Out-Patient Services

Radiology Services

Pathology Services

Physical Medicine Services

Ante Natal Services

The HSE has 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, including Monaghan arising out of the report by Teamwork Management Services.

In line with the Teamwork report, it is planned to have one major regional centre in the North East, supported by local hospitals and care centres at a number of locations, including Monaghan. The regional hospital will provide emergency and trauma services on a 24 hour basis. It will also provide planned specialist procedures that are complex and require the facilities of a large regional hospital. Local hospitals, including Monaghan, will provide services which meet the majority of patients needs including day and urgent care services.

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. The process is being supported by ten Clinical Network Leads who have been tasked with overseeing the full range of planned care services to be provided at the local hospitals, including Monaghan.

The HSE has given me an assurance that, in progressing the re-organisation of services, there will be no discontinuation of existing services until suitable alternative arrangements have been put in place.