Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 74: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of laboratories that will be cut and the staff reduction from same under recently announced plans to rationalise medical laboratory services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13156/09]

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

The implementation of the recently published review of Laboratory Medicine Services will bring about a significant restructuring of existing laboratory services. Large cold laboratories will be established to provide quality cost efficient laboratory services to primary and community care and some non-urgent testing from acute hospitals. All hospitals with Emergency Services, Critical Care Services or Maternity Services will continue to have on-site laboratories.

A Laboratory Services Steering Group, chaired by the National Director of Commercial and Support Services of the Health Service Executive, is currently being established to implement the plan. Engagement with the relevant stakeholders has commenced. The number of laboratories required, and associated staff, will be determined by the work of this group and therefore it would be premature to make any estimates at this time regarding the envisaged number of staff and laboratories required.