Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the acute hospital services review; the steps she will take in view of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16029/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The HSE is undertaking a strategic review of acute hospital services in the Southern region. The review is focusing on identifying the best configuration of acute hospital services in the South including arrangements forA&E, critical care, acute medicine and surgery, together with diagnostic services so that the highest quality of care can be delivered to the population. The HSE has advised my Department that the review of acute hospital services in the HSE South is being finalised at present.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the extra resources being assigned to maternity hospitals to address the growing birth rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16328/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The number of births nationally last year was over 70,000. The Health Service Executive has made provision in its National Service Plan for 2008 for an increase in this number to approximately 73,000.

Recognising the increased birth rate, and the increasing complexity of maternity and neonatal services nationally, the HSE has prioritised the requirement for additional service development funding in recent years for this service. For example, in the eastern region the recurring revenue budget for the three Dublin Maternity Hospitals has increased from €125m to €153m over the last four years. When account is taken of once-off funding, the investment stands at over €161m in 2008.

In 2007 additional funding of €3m was provided to address patient safety priorities overall, including funding for maternity services to support the implementation of the very important recommendations made in the Lourdes Hospital Inquiry Report. The HSE prioritised maternity service requirements in 2007 from this general patient safety fund.

On the capital side, the HSE has made provision in its HSE Draft Capital programme for additional investment of some €10m each year for the next three years in respect of maternity services in the Dublin region. This investment builds on a range of capital improvements already put in place or currently in train as follows:

The establishment of the National Epidemiology Centre in 2006 to facilitate the monitoring of all data from Irish maternity units with the aim of improving clinical services for mothers and babies.

The opening of the new Cork University Maternity Hospital last year saw the amalgamation of Cork's three existing hospitals on the one site.

€15m for Wexford General Hospital to meet the cost of upgrading the obstetric and gynaecological service.

€9m to upgrade maternity facilities at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.

Upgrading of the obstetric/gynaecology ward and delivery suite at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar.

Upgrading of the special care baby unit at Portiuncula Hospital.

The HSE is also committed to developing a strategic approach to maternity services nationally. The first stage in this work is the Review of Maternity & Gynaecology Services in the Greater Dublin Area. The review, which is being conducted for the HSE by KPMG Consultants, will set out recommendations and provide an action plan to facilitate delivery of the best model of care for primary, community and hospital maternity services in the future. The review is designed to provide the necessary platform for the provision of safe, sustainable, cost effective, high quality and consistent maternity, neonatology and gynaecology care services. The report will also include recommendations regarding areas where there is potential for performance improvement within existing services.

The HSE is also establishing a Maternity Services Expert Advisory Group which will provide a central platform for clinical and health communities, patients, clients and managers to become actively involved in the development and transformation of maternity services.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the Health Information and Quality Authority report of a review of pathology services at University College Hospital, Galway will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16254/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The investigation by the Health Information and Quality Authority into pathology services at University College Hospital, Galway was commenced in September 2007. I am aware that, in the interest of thoroughness, the Authority extended the original scope of the investigation on two occasions in light of information that emerged as part of the investigation. I am informed that significant progress has been made and that the work of the investigation team is almost complete. It is anticipated that the report will be published by the end of May or early June.