Written answers

Wednesday, 21 November 2007

Department of Health and Children

Health Service Reform

9:00 pm

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans and the timescale for the rationalisation of the health services in the north east in the context of the Teamwork Report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29982/07]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive is seeking to improve safety and standards across the acute hospital network in the North East Region, having regard to the issues raised in the Teamwork Management Services Report — "Improving Safety and Achieving Better Standards — An Action Plan for Health Services in the North East".

The Teamwork Report includes a number of recommendations to improve patient care in the region. It particularly highlights the need to develop a high quality, responsive emergency and planned service, in line with international standards. It recommends that there be one major regional hospital in the North East, supported by the five existing local hospitals. The new hospital is to provide emergency and trauma services on a 24-hour basis and also provide planned specialist procedures that are complex and require the facilities of a large regional hospital.

The reconfiguration process is being overseen by a HSE Steering Group. The specific issue relating to time-scale is a matter for the HSE. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to have this particular issue investigated and to reply directly to the deputy.

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