Written answers

Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Department of Health and Children

Hospital Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Seymour CrawfordSeymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the north east transformation programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9186/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised my Department that the North East Transformation Programme is approaching the end of its initial phase of detailed planning and is moving towards detailed design and implementation. Operational management and transformation management arrangements in the North East have now been linked in order to achieve full integration of the transformation programme with the management of operations.

My Department understands that the HSE North East made a presentation recently on the North East Transformation Programme to meetings of two Committees of the Regional Health Forum — Dublin and North East. The HSE advises that it emphasised a clear commitment that existing services in the region will remain in place until they are replaced with higher quality, safer or more appropriate services. It also emphasised that an indicative list of measures outlined in the presentation is a draft work in progress.

The HSE has advised that it is not possible until the detailed planning phase is complete to be definitive as to what aspects of North East Transformation can be implemented during 2008/2009. The indicative list which was included in the presentation is dependent on a range of factors including significant change management and changes to work practices. The degree and pace of change will also be influenced by the extent to which resources can be freed up by the HSE for re-investment in transformation initiatives.

Finally, the HSE has advised that no decisions have been taken on reducing services in the North East. The HSE is facing a challenging year and is exploring, in the case of the North East, how best to deliver on service plan targets within the level of resources available.

Photo of Seymour CrawfordSeymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the CT scanner, which was promised for Monaghan General Hospital will be put in place: if it is in private storage at the present time; the location of same; if this can be justified as expenditure at a time when there is so much vacant space in Monaghan General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9187/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, including the provision of a CT scanner at Monaghan General Hospital, is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

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