Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Health the recommendations outlined in Health Information and Quality Authority's update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Ennis Report published in February 2011 that will be implemented this year. [17880/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am fully aware of the recommendations of the Health Information and Quality Authority in relation to Ennis Hospital and its subsequent report on Mallow Hospital. Both reports deal with the type of services that can safely be provided in smaller hospitals and with the structures required for good governance and accountability within our hospitals. The report on Mallow reiterates the implications of the Ennis report for all hospitals of a similar size.

I have said on many occasions that I believe local hospitals can and should be a vibrant element of local health services, providing treatment and care at the appropriate level of complexity to the patients in their area. I have also said that I will not stand over unsafe care which puts patients at risk.

The recommendations in these HIQA Reports need to be implemented in order to ensure that the standards of care delivered in smaller hospitals are as high as possible and that the type of care provided is appropriate to the clinical setting and to the needs of patients.

I have had a number of meetings with clinicians and officials in my Department and the HSE about the progress being made in implementing the HIQA recommendations both generally and in relation to specific hospitals. I intend to keep myself fully briefed about ongoing developments.

This Government is strongly committed to developing the role of smaller hospitals in Ireland so that they play a key part in the services provided to local communities. Patients should only have to travel to the larger hospitals for more complex services. HIQA's reports on Ennis and Mallow are entirely in keeping with this approach.