Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 833: To ask the Minister for Health if there is a Health Service Executive paper proposing cuts to health services in Louth County Hospital and Navan Hospital, County Meath. [22828/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 834: To ask the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive is proposing to halve the 24 hour accident and emergency services at Navan, County Meath. [22829/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 835: To ask the Minister for Health the alternative accident and emergency facilities that will be available to cover emergencies in event that the Health Service Executive halves Navan's accident and emergency, County Louth. [22830/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 836: To ask the Minister for Health the plans the Health Service Executive has to close 25 beds in Louth County Hospital. [22831/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 837: To ask the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive plans to transfer outpatients clinics from Navan, County Meath. [22832/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 838: To ask the Minister for Health the location to which outpatient clinics from Navan Hospital, County Meath, will be transferred. [22833/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 839: To ask the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive plans to reduce the opening hours of the minor injuries unit at Louth County Hospital. [22834/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 842: To ask the Minister for Health the amount that will be saved by cutting minor injuries unit in Louth County Hospital at weekends and for three hours in the evening. [22837/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 843: To ask the Minister for Health the additional resources the Health Services Executive plans to put into Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, County Louth, in the event that the plans to restrict the opening of the minor injuries units go ahead. [22838/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 844: To ask the Minister for Health if the stroke and rehab unit to be opened at Louth County Hospital in the near future will be additional to and not in place of existing beds at the hospital. [22839/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 845: To ask the Minister for Health when he become aware of the document which is proposing the cuts to services at Louth County Hospital in Dundalk and Our Lady's in Navan, County Meath. [22840/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 833 to 839, inclusive, and 842 to 845, inclusive, together.

The efficiency of services in the Louth/Meath Hospital Group is being reviewed by the HSE in light of the current budgetary and financial position. As part of this process, draft documentation has been prepared by the HSE but no definitive plans have been made regarding changes to services for patients. The HSE has advised my Department that no decision has been taken to alter the hours of services in any of the Minor Injuries Units (MIU) in the Louth/Meath Hospital Group. At present there is a 24 hour MIU service in operation at both Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda and in Navan Hospital and a full daytime service in Louth County Hospital.

I would like to emphasise that changes driven by budgetary issues must be clearly distinguished from change driven by pure safety concerns. In relation to the Emergency Department and outpatient clinics at Navan Hospital, I have emphasised that any changes need to be carried out in a planned way and that all changes will be fully communicated. The HSE has indicated that no change to either service has been made at present.

Similarly in relation to Louth County Hospital, there are no plans for changes to the number of beds. The HSE has clarified that the stroke rehabilitation beds at the hospital which are due to come on stream following completion of the current refurbishment of wards are part of the complement since July 2010 and do not represent additional beds.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 840: To ask the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive plans to end weekend opening to minor injuries units. [22835/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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