Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will intervene to prevent the planned removal of acute medical services from Monaghan General Hospital as planned later in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13335/09]

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 Health Service Executive (HSE) which demonstrated that the service configuration in the region was unsustainable. A series of focused and necessary service changes are being implemented across the region.

With regard to the Cavan/Monaghan Hospital Group the HSE intends to complete the transfer of acute in-patient services from Monaghan to Cavan over the coming months and to develop additional services in Monaghan. The transfer of acute medical care to Cavan is subject to a number of dependencies first being in place, including the development of an enhanced ambulance and pre-hospital thrombolysis service. The recently opened Medical Assessment Unit at Cavan is to be in place for two months prior to the proposed transfer of services from Monaghan. Finally, I must emphasise that the changes proposed by the HSE and fully supported by the Government are for reasons of patient safety. The HSE will work with all stakeholders to bring about the improvements in a carefully planned way that puts patients first.