Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the review being carried out by him into the transfer of services at the Orthopaedic Hospital, Cork, will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13459/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to ensuring that acute hospital services at national, regional and local level are provided in a clinically appropriate and efficient manner. In particular I want to ensure that services are provided safely and in the setting most appropriate to patients' needs. I want to see a health system that is providing a service quickly, efficiently and safely. I have made it clear to the HSE since I became Minister that I expect to be briefed on any plans to withdraw services and pending such briefing I have instructed the HSE not to withdraw services.

I believe we have to be open and transparent in how we approach these matters and in making sure that people are consulted and are aware of what is happening. I also believe there must be strong clinical leadership at the head of the development of hospital networks. In order to fully consider the issues involved, I have recently held discussions with the Health Service Executive including senior clinicians, on the organisation of acute services in the Cork/Kerry network. One of the issues discussed was the possible relocation and expansion of regional orthopaedic services.

I believe that the plan for the acute hospital services in Cork and Kerry has been developed in a inclusive and open manner and will result in improved and increased services for the region as a whole. This will include extra operating capacity and, crucially, the re-establishment of paediatric orthopaedic services in the Cork and Kerry region. There will be extra operating capacity in the network and paediatric orthopaedic surgery will be available again in Cork for the first time since 2008. Children will no longer have to travel to Dublin for these services.

I am awaiting some further clarification on the future role of St Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital. As for all acute services, I believe that we should look at the future of the hospital in the wider context of hospital networks, functioning as part of a coordinated system and, in this case, as a health campus serving the local community.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps he has taken towards the establishment of the special delivery unit aimed at improving access to the emergency and elective care system. [13413/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Health, I am determined to address the issues which cause unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. The Government is committed to establishing a Special Delivery Unit (SDU) to improve access to the emergency and elective care system. Extensive work is currently being undertaken in designing the Unit, which will be modelled, in part, on the successful special delivery unit in Northern Ireland that substantially reduced waiting lists over two to three years.