Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the provision of services at the Louth County Hospital, Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19112/11]

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 as many services as possible can be provided safely in smaller, local hospitals. I have also made it clear that patient safety must be the overriding priority. I want patients to be treated at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely, and efficient and as near to home as possible.

Smaller hospitals should be a key part of an integrated hospital service in their regions, providing as wide a range of services as possible, close to the local community. They should be the corner stone of local provision, with clear links to other services. They should provide a range of diagnostics and expanded elective day surgery and medical procedures. These should transfer from the larger hospitals, freeing these facilities up for more complex work.

There is particular focus on diagnostic and day service provision in Louth County Hospital, with a number of services currently provided in the hospital including an elderly day assessment service which is receiving nine new referrals weekly, elective endoscopy, medical, surgical, orthopaedic and antenatal outpatient clinics. The services also include radiology, laboratory and gynaecology day services and colposcopy screening. The local emergency department sees 88% of patients under 35 minutes and the average length of stay is less than 1 hour. Daily attendances average at between 25-30 patients. Within Louth County Hospital there are currently also eight stroke rehabilitation beds operational. In-patients in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda with a diagnosis of stroke are currently referred to this unit for ongoing rehabilitation. Refurbishment of this facility commenced in March 2011and on completion will include a dedicated allied health professional rehabilitation facility and an independent living area. The phased opening of the remaining beds, 11 in total, is planned in the context of the Acute Medicine Programme which forms part of the Clinical Strategy and Programmes 2011.

Project teams have been established to progress with the development of plans for both the orthopaedic rehabilitation and medical palliative in-patient beds. A phased opening of ten palliative care beds is due later this year. These initiatives are closely linked to the development of the Community Response Team, Louth who have an agenda for hospital admission avoidance and early discharge. This Team was established in February 2011 and currently they are in receipt of six referrals daily from ward areas.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Health when the required surgery will take place at Waterford Regional Hospital in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [19113/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.