Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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36. To ask the Minister for Health the actions he has taken to ensure that services at Letterkenny General Hospital will be restored following last summer's flash flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47942/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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On Friday 26 July 2013, 40% of the floor space and 70% of the functional capacity of Letterkenny General Hospital was lost. With the rapid activation of the Hospital's Major Emergency Plan, patients and staff were safely evacuated, arrangements made with other hospitals and the NAS to ensure that appropriate treatment would remain available to patients and a massive clean-up operation was commenced within hours. I am particularly grateful to the Western Trust of Northern Ireland, to Altnagelvin, Enniskillen, Sligo and Galway hospitals for their assistance and to the staff of Letterkenny General Hospital who were willingly redeployed to some of these locations to assist with patient care.

A key factor in re-establishing services was the replacement of radiology services, through the provision of a mobile CT and modular digital radiology facilities in the carpark, the outsourcing of MRI and the restoration of ultrasound capability. Modular units were also sourced for the reprovision of ED services and a phased re-opening commenced 3 weeks after the flood.

Works on Gynaecology ambulatory care were commenced within weeks and are now complete; this service has been re-commissioned. A building has been identified in the town centre for the provision of outpatient clinics; it is currently being fitted out. Work on the hospital Pharmacy has commenced and is due for completion in February 2014. Contractors have been on site from 11 November to work on the Emergency Department and Acute Medical Assessment Unit and these are to be completed in March 2014. A Multipurpose Radiology Interventional Suite, which will have greater functionality than the previous radiology facility at the hospital, has been approved by the national capital steering group and is at design stage. Project teams have also been established for services in those areas which were significantly impacted by the flooding, such as CCU, Cardiac investigations, medical records, laboratories, mortuary and staff facilities.