Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the future of St. Mary's Hospital in Cork; if closure is decided upon, if staff will be redeployed to other local hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8045/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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In May 2010, as part of a plan to organise acute hospital services in the Cork and Kerry region in the safest and most efficient way, the HSE announced its intention to relocate orthopaedic services, including elective in-patient, rehabilitation trauma and day surgery, from St Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital to the South Infirmary/Victoria University Hospital.

I am being briefed by my Department and the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the organisation of acute services in each region and on the important clinical programmes being developed by the HSE. In the meantime, there will be no withdrawal of the current services from St Mary's Hospital.

I am committed to ensuring that acute hospital services at national, regional and local level are provided in a clinically appropriate and efficient manner.