Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Health if he will intervene to prevent the proposed cuts to surgical services at Cavan General Hospital which will see the theatre operating only every second week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29412/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware this country is facing a great economic challenge. 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. In terms of service delivery, we must concentrate on getting the best possible services for patients from the budgets available to us. This means we need to focus on how beds are used, on the throughput of patients, on reducing length of stay to international norms and on having as many procedures as possible carried out as day cases rather than inpatient work, thus maximising also the efficient usage of operating theatre facilities.

In relation to Cavan General Hospital the hospital has informed me that it has opted to control its budget by reducing scheduled routine theatre activity to alternate weeks. It is important to note that all patients requiring emergency and urgent surgical/gynae procedures will continue to have these procedures performed as normal. I have been advised that there has been a robust consultative process and communication plan with all Consultants, Clinical Directors, staff, service users and the public in relation to these planned service changes. This process commenced in Quarter one well in advance of the change. The process was also discussed within the mechanism established as part the Public Service Agreement.

In relation to Cavan General Hospital I can confirm that it is performing well, maintaining the 12 month waiting time target and making significant progress on achieving the new 9 month target, the child 20 week target and the 13 week GI endoscopy target. Waiting list data for the hospital at the end March showed that 78% of patients were on the list for under 3 months, 16% between 3 - 6 months and the remaining 6% for over 6 months. The evidence to date shows that Cavan General Hospital has maintained a very good activity rate. The hospital looks set to achieve all of the targets that have been set by the SDU.