Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will act on the call of general practitioners in Cavan, Monaghan, Clare and north Tipperary for the Health Service Executive not to proceed with the removal of services from Monaghan General Hospital, Ennis General Hospital and Nenagh General Hospital and the centralisation of services in the already overstretched hospitals in Cavan, Drogheda and Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6600/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Transformation Programme for the North East region has been informed by the Teamwork Report to the HSE which demonstrated that the service configuration in the region was unsustainable. A series of focused service changes are being implemented across the region. The immediate focus is the reconfiguration of existing services by moving acute and complex care from 5 to 2 hospital sites.

With regard to the Mid-West, the HSE plans for the region are informed by the recently published Teamwork/Horwath Report. The Report highlighted the need for changes to be made in the provision and organisation of acute hospital services across the region as it found services are too fragmented, carry increased risks for patients and staff and are not sustainable in their present form. The HSE has been engaged in a consultation process with key stakeholders as it formulates detailed plans in relation to emergency care, critical care and surgical services in the region.

Both processes involve widespread and fundamental change and are designed to build a health system that is in line with the model of care emerging internationally. Extensive consultation with key stakeholders, including GPs, is an important feature of the HSE management of change in these regions.

I would like to emphasise that the changes proposed by the HSE and fully supported by the Government are for reasons of patient safety. We are committed to providing the best possible service for patients in a manner that ensures quality and safety. It is entirely understandable that there will be concerns about change, but the Government is satisfied that this is the best way forward. The HSE will continue to work with all stakeholders to bring about the improvements in a carefully planned way, that puts patients first.