Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Health the services that he is requesting hospitals to cut in order to address their deficits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29464/12]

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 a greater emphasis 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 the efficient usage of operating theatre facilities.

The work of the Special Delivery Unit, together with the Clinical Care Programmes and the Smaller Hospitals Framework will help to improve the efficiency of our hospitals, allowing us to treat as many patients as possible in more appropriate settings and within budget. I believe that pursuing efficiencies through these means will be a far more productive approach than debating any reductions in services.