Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 510: To ask the Minister for Health the persons, body or group with whom or with which responsibility rests for the evaluation of the general hospital network throughout the country; with whom this body or group has consulted to date; if this group has met with hospitals that have been downgraded in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32896/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government intends to publish a Framework for the Development of Smaller Hospitals, which will set out the way these hospitals provide services to patients and how they work within their regional hospital networks. A Joint HSE/Departmental group is currently working on the Framework's development. The Framework and its implementation is a priority of the Government.

In developing the Framework, the Government is clear that:

- there is an important future role for smaller hospitals, in which they will provide services for more patients, not fewer

- no acute hospital will close, and

- safety issues in all acute hospitals, big or small, must be fully addressed, by providing the right type of services in the right settings.

We also need to take into account the individual circumstances of each hospital, to recognise the need for regional solutions and, within the excellent context provided by the HSE's clinical programmes, to encourage local innovation in response to service issues that arise locally or regionally. The best solutions will vary between regions and within the overall context referred to there is no question of a 'one size fits all' approach.

We will arrange extensive consultation to ensure we develop an effective framework that takes account of local and regional needs. This process of consultation will begin shortly. I have already said that the reorganisation of our acute system must involve a two way transfer of services between the larger and smaller hospitals, and that as much of the less complex acute treatment should be provided as close to a patient's community as possible. I expect that the model for reassignment of services will be a dynamic one, capable of adapting to the changing needs of patients and the health service, nationally, regionally and locally, and the evolving nature of medical treatment and technology.