Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for Health if there will be any changes to services at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin, between now and the end of the year; if he will list the services affected; the details of any changes to staffing arrangements; the estimated cost of the change in these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30023/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Health the number of staff who will be affected by the reduction in agency staff and overtime hours at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30024/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 513: To ask the Minister for Health the wards and services at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, that will be affected by the proposed reduction in agency staff and overtime hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30025/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 516: To ask the Minister for Health the reason 12 surgical beds are to be closed at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; when these bed closures will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30028/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 517: To ask the Minister for Health the measures he will put in place to cover the closure of 12 surgical beds at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30029/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for Health the expected reduction in the number of patients treated arising from the closure of 12 surgical beds at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30030/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 519: To ask the Minister for Health the measures he will put in place to cover the closure of the surgical ward at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, from 24 October to 7 November; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30031/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 520: To ask the Minister for Health the reason the surgical ward at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, is being closed from 24 October to 7 November; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30032/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for Health how surgical procedures at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, will be impacted by the closure of the surgical ward from 24 October to 7 November 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30033/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for Health the reason the surgical ward at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, will be reduced from 24 beds to eight upon its reopening on 7 November 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30034/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 523: To ask the Minister for Health how surgical procedures at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, will be impacted by the reduction of beds in the surgical ward from 24 to eight from 7 November 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30035/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 524: To ask the Minister for Health the measures being put in place at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, to cover the reduction in beds in the surgical ward from 24 to eight from 7 November 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30036/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 525: To ask the Minister for Health the reason the surgical ward at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, will be closed for three weeks from 19 December in the run-up to Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30037/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 526: To ask the Minister for Health how surgical procedures at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, will be impacted by the closure of the surgical ward for three weeks from 19 December 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30038/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 527: To ask the Minister for Health the measures put in place at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, to cover the closure of the surgical ward for three weeks from 19 December 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30039/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 511 to 513, inclusive, and 516 to 527, inclusive, together.

As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 514: To ask the Minister for Health the date on which he was informed there would be changes to the services provided by Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30026/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 515: To ask the Minister for Health when he was informed there would be changes made to the services provided by Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30027/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together.

I am very conscious of the scale of the financial challenge faced by the HSE this year. All hospitals have to seek efficiencies, and I have emphasised to the HSE that budgetary compliance must be maintained, while delivering the service levels promised in the National Service Plan. Both activity and expenditure at Connolly Hospital are ahead of the levels approved in the 2011 National Service Plan. With this in mind, a comprehensive review of services at the hospital has been undertaken by the HSE and hospital management.

On 18 August last the Department of Health was informed that the HSE had confirmed to my Department that measures were being planned to ensure that Connolly remains within budget by year end. In mid September the Department of Health was advised by the HSE that a number of options were being reviewed relating to procurement of all externally sourced services and goods, agency staffing and overtime levels, in-patient, day case and out-patient activity and improved / additional income collection measures to increase private income collection. On 23 September 2011, I was advised by the HSE that a cost containment plan was in place including the closure of 24 acute beds, seasonal closures of the OPD/Surgical Day Ward, additional reductions in agency and overtime per month from August 2011 and curtailment of activity while remaining within national targets.

On 3 October 2011 I met with Consultants and Senior Management Personnel when I opened the Endoscopy Unit at the Hospital. The specific details in relation to bed closures at Connolly were raised in the Dáil and the media on the 6 and 7 October 2011. On 10 October, the HSE confirmed to my Department the temporary closure of the surgical day ward for 2 weeks from 24 October 2011 and its reopening on 7 November 2011 with a reduction from 24 to 8 places. In addition a further temporary closure for 3 weeks is planned from 19 December. The phased closure of 12 in-patient surgical beds between then and the end of the year was also confirmed by the HSE.

Questions Nos. 516 to 527, inclusive, answered with Question No. 511.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 528: To ask the Minister for Health the reason he did not detail in his speech during his visit to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 on 3 October 2011 that the endoscopy department had been operational since May 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30042/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 529: To ask the Minister for Health the reason the press release issued to mark his visit to the endoscopy department in Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 on 3 October 2011 did not refer to the fact that the unit had been operational since May 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30043/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 528 and 529 together.

While the endoscopy unit in Connolly Hospital has been operational since May 2010, I was invited by the hospital in a letter of the 14 of June to perform the official opening ceremony. The main purposes of my speech of 3 October was to congratulate all those involved with the development of the unit since its inception and to emphasise that the work being done within the unit in diagnosing and treating digestive conditions is helping to ensure the early detection of and prevention of colon cancer.

The press release referred to by the Deputy was released by the HSE and it also concentrated on the work being done by the Unit and the resulting benefits to patients.