John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the ongoing delay by the Health Service Executive in having a child (details supplied) in County Wexford admitted to Waterford General Hospital. [38993/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am determined to address the issues which cause unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. In this regard I have established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which will work to unblock access to acute services by dramatically improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining waiting lists, including referrals from GPs. The SDU is working closely with its partner agencies - mainly the HSE and the NTPF.

As a priority, public hospitals have been instructed to ensure that, by the end of 2011, they have no patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. Where they fail to do so, the NTPF will source the necessary treatments elsewhere and an appropriate budgetary adjustment will be made.

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and facility involved.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Health if he will immediately publish a report from the Health Service Executive detailing the reason the decision was made to close a hospital (details supplied) in County Dublin; if he will appreciate the demand from the wider community that this information be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39005/11]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the decision, announced by the Health Service Executive to close a hospital (details supplied) in County Dublin; if he will appreciate the concerns of families of residents and the wider community in respect of this widely criticised decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39006/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together.

The decision referred to by the Deputy is a decision of the Health Service Executive, not my colleague the Minister for Health. As such the Deputy's questions have been referred to the Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.