Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that no beds will be closed in 2012 by the Health Service Executive at Buncrana nursing unit, County Donegal. [39705/11]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that no beds will be closed in 2012 by the Health Service Executive at Carndonagh Community Hospital, County Donegal. [39706/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 465 together.

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

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 466: To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that no beds will be closed in 2012 by the Health Service Executive at Ramelton nursing home, County Donegal. [39707/11]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 467: To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that no beds will be closed in 2012 by the Health Service Executive at Lifford Community Hospital, County Donegal. [39708/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 467 together.

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

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 468: To ask the Minister for Health if approval for change of general practitioner will be granted in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if he will expedite the matter. [39710/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for Health if a respite bed or aftercare will be provided at the district hospital or home in Carlow in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [39712/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 470: To ask the Minister for Health if he will arrange to have a person (details supplied) in County Wexford given an appointment by Waterford general hospital as a matter of urgency. [39714/11]

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.