Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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486. To ask the Minister for Health if there has been a change of function-services provided at the emergency department of Our Lady's Hospital Navan, County Meath; his views on the care of a patient (details supplied) at that hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44142/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Smaller Hospitals Framework, which ensures the future of our local hospitals, sets out the necessity for moving high volume, lower complexity cases to smaller hospitals whilst moving more complex cases to larger hospitals. These changes will help to make sure that the services provided in all hospitals are safe, appropriate and sustainable.

Work continues across smaller hospitals to put in place appropriate service arrangements. In line with the Framework, trauma bypass has been in place in Navan Hospital since early 2010, with the Emergency Department continuing to accept non-trauma ambulance presentation and self-presentations. As part of this process, the building currently housing the ED will be used as a Minor Injuries Unit. However, full implementation of the Framework is dependent on the development of ED and bed capacity in the region, to safely manage the ED, intensive care and acute medical workload.

With regard to specific complaints about experiences of individuals in our hospitals, there is a formal complaints policy entitled “Your Service Your Say”, details of which are on the HSE website, at . In accordance with this procedure, a complaint must be made in the first instance to the hospital in which the incident causing the complaint occurred.

If an individual is not satisfied with the response from the hospital, a review can be sought from the HSE Director of Advocacy and the Ombudsman, whose details are set out below.

HSE Director of Advocacy

Oak House

Millennium Park

Naas

Co Kildare

Tel 1890 424 555

Office of the Ombudsman

18, Lower Leeson Street

Dublin 2

Tel 1890 223 030

Email:

In relation to the specific clinical issue you have raised, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.