Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to develop services at Roscommon Hospital and at Portiuncula Hospital, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45301/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The Government is committed to ensuring the delivery of the best quality health services possible in a safe, effective and efficient way. 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.

In the past, Roscommon County Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital operated independently. Advances in clinical care and ever-increasing levels of specialisation mean that this model of care faces important practical difficulties which must be addressed. The difficulties faced by Roscommon and Portiuncula in maintaining surgical services independently, and the need for closer co-operation between them, were highlighted by the former Comhairle na nOspidéal in March, 2006.

The best way of retaining and of developing services at Roscommon County and Portiuncula Hospitals is for these hospitals to work closely together and for both to co-ordinate their activities with University College Hospital, Galway.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) concluded a review of surgical and anaesthetic services at Roscommon County and Portiuncula Hospitals in mid-2008. In light of this review, the Executive is proceeding with the re-configuration of the surgical and anaesthetic departments of the two hospitals into a Joint Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia. As part of this plan a joint clinical director was appointed this year and joint consultant appointments are being progressed that involve sessional commitments at Roscommon County Hospital and at Portiuncula Hospital. In total, there will be five consultant surgeons serving the two hospitals. A new consultant surgeon post was recently filled. A replacement consultant surgeon post is in the process of being filled.

In addition, two consultant physicians with sessional commitments at Roscommon, Portiuncula and Galway University Hospital have been recruited and are expected take up their posts in the early part of 2010.