John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that medical staff at Waterford Regional Hospital are concerned that her policy of developing the hospital as the regional acute centre is not being implemented due to the failure of the Health Service Executive to make required consultancy appointments; if she will instruct the HSE to ensure that WRH is adequately staffed to ensure that it is enabled to provide regional cardiology services, regional vascular surgery services, regional medical oncology and cancer services, regional urology services and regional acute general surgical services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43756/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government is committed to ensuring the delivery of the best quality health services possible, in an effective and efficient way. Ensuring patient safety is of paramount importance, so that people can have confidence in the services and that the best possible patient outcomes can be achieved. It is essential that we prioritise patient safety and quality and that we organise and manage services accordingly.

The priority is to provide safe services as close as possible to where people live. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive to arrange have the information sought in relation to consultant appointments and other staffing matters provided directly to the Deputy.