Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 617: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount of money that the Health Service Executive will save by the recent termination of the surgical services in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32258/10]

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

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 618: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will intervene on the recent decision made by the Health Service Executive to terminate surgical services at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan; and if she will instruct the HSE to reverse this decision in order to keep this service open to the people of County Meath. [32259/10]

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

The Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland provided the Health Service Executive (HSE) with advice regarding safety issues in relation to surgery at Navan Hospital. Acting on this advice, the HSE decided to cease all emergency surgery at the hospital immediately, with effect from 1 September 2010.

The transfer of acute and emergency surgery from Our Lady's Hospital, Navan was always a long-term objective of the North East Transformation Plan. The Plan is designed to build a health system that is in line with the model of care emerging internationally.

The HSE has put a rota in place to manage patients safety. It is underpinned by a Standard Operating Policy (SOP), which clearly identifies the approach to be taken to managing patients who present to the Emergency Department at Navan and the responsibilities of various staff members.

Minor elective surgery (i.e. requiring local anaesthetic only) and endoscopy will remain in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. It is still also the regional centre for elective orthopaedic surgery.