James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 68: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to provide for the continuation of surgical services at Bantry General Hospital (details supplied); if the Health Service Executive has commenced recruitment of a new consultant surgeon or other such arrangements to maintain surgery at Bantry General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34522/08]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 109: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of Bantry General Hospital in County Cork; the level of health services available at the hospital; if there are plans to downgrade the services available at the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34943/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 109 together.

Operational responsibility for services provided at Bantry General Hospital is a matter for the Health Service Executive. My Department has therefore requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy in relation to this matter.

In regard to hospital services generally in the HSE South region, the HSE is undertaking a strategic review of these services. The review focuses on identifying the best configuration of acute hospital services in the South including arrangements for A&E, critical care, acute medicine and surgery, together with diagnostic services so that the highest quality of care can be delivered to the population.

This review will act as one of the inputs to decisions on how best to reconfigure acute services in the Southern region. The Government and the Executive are committed to ensuring that the approach to re-organisation of services is carried out in consultation with the key stakeholders and that each element is progressed incrementally. I believe that it is important to work with health professionals and other interested parties to secure an increasing set of improvements over time. This approach will, I am confident, produce the best outcome for patients. The final draft of the report is currently under consideration by the HSE.