Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the review of medical services at St. Vincent's University Hospital, St. Columcille's Hospital and St. Michael's Hospital, Dublin; his plans, if any, to curtail the services at St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8496/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Acute hospital services in the Dublin South-Wicklow Area, are provided through a collaborative arrangement across three sites, St. Vincent's University Hospital, St. Michael's Hospital and St. Columcille's Hospital.

The configuration of services in the area has been under continued review and reorganisation for some time in the interest of improving access and quality of service to the local population.

The HSE is currently carrying out a collaborative study and consultation process across the three sites.

The work of this study will feed into the implementation of a Framework for Smaller Hospitals, which I expect to publish shortly and which encompasses St Colmcille's Hospital. This framework will demonstrate clearly that the future of smaller hospitals is secure. It will set out what services can and should be delivered safely by these hospitals in the interest of better outcomes for patients.