Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding on going treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23909/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I believe we must concentrate on getting the best possible services for patients from the budgets available to us. The work of the Special Delivery Unit, together with implementation of the Clinical Care Programmes in the HSE, will help to improve the efficiency of our hospitals, allowing us to treat as many patients as possible within budget. In the current economic climate the acute sector must reduce its costs in order to deliver the agreed level of activity within the resources available to it. The emphasis in 2012 will continue to be to make the most effective use of acute bed capacity through shorter lengths of stay, increased rates of day-of-surgery admission and more day surgery. In this way the acute hospital system can ensure that, within the level of resources available, it provides safe, effective and efficient care to the maximum number of patients.

Where a hospital is the centre for national specialties it will continue to accept patients from all locations. In relation to other specialties, hospitals generally do not cover patients outside their catchment area. However, patients who have received their treatment in such hospitals will continue to receive treatment as long as it is clinically appropriate.

In relation to the detailed information sought by the Deputy, as these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.