Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 242: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which it is intended to bring the standards at all hospitals here up to centre of excellence levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46030/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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A fundamental part of Government policy for hospital services is the delivery of high standards of patient care, ensuring that patient safety is paramount and that the best possible patient outcomes are achieved. The Deputy will be aware that the HSE has commissioned a number of reviews in relation to how acute hospital services should be organised in particular regions. These reviews have highlighted the need for changes to be made in the provision and organisation of acute hospital services in the regions concerned. The programme also involves developing smaller hospitals to provide a much greater proportion of less complex care, underlining the fact that smaller hospitals can be reconfigured to provide important services in their local communities. Working to ensure patient safety and the best possible outcomes for patients is essential to the delivery of services at every hospital, whatever the range or complexity of services provided at that hospital.

An important step forward in implementing Government policy on safety and quality of health services was the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) in 2007. A core function of HIQA is to set standards on safety and quality of health services and to monitor enforcement of those standards in an open and transparent way. HIQA has already developed national quality standards in areas such as Symptomatic Breast Disease Standards, National Hygiene Standards and National Standards for Infection Prevention and Control. HIQA has also commenced work on the development of National Quality Standards for acute hospitals in the public sector. As part of the implementation of the Report of the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance, approved by Government in January 2009, my Department is now developing legislative proposals for a mandatory licensing system to cover both public and private hospitals, based on the standards being prepared by HIQA.