Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 613: To ask the Minister for Health if it is necessary to sign a ministerial order for orthopaedic services to be transferred from St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital to South Infirmary Hospital, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34594/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Under section 38 of the 2004 Health Act, the HSE may enter into arrangements for the provision of services by other parties.

The HSE has a service level agreement with the voluntary hospitals in Cork, including South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH). The Regional Director's Office, HSE South, has advised me that the agreement allows for variations in the services to be provided.

The 2011 SLAs with both the Mercy University Hospital and SIVUH will be amended to reflect the changes in activity and services planned, between now and year end, under the reorganisation of acute services in Cork. The current SLAs with both hospitals expire on 31 December 2011 and the 2012 SLAs will reflect these changes, as well as other planned changes scheduled for 2012 as part of this programme.