Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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188. To ask the Minister for Health to describe the relationship between the report with his Department from the HSE on the future of accident and emergency services at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise and the document entitled Dublin Midlands Hospital Group Strategy 2018 - 2023, which was scheduled to be discussed by the regional management of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47499/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A priority in the HSE's 2017 Service Plan is the development of Hospital Group strategic plans. The Dublin Midland Hospital Group is concluding the development of its multi-year strategic plan (Dublin Midlands Hospital Group Strategy 2018-2023) which focuses on developing clinical networks and pathways across hospitals and between hospitals and their primary and community care partners.

The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group has also been working for some time on a draft plan for a new model of clinical service delivery at Portlaoise Hospital which takes account of the need to develop services at Portlaoise in the context of developing the model of service provision for the entire Hospital Group. This draft plan has been submitted to my Department and it is being reviewed in detail. Once there is an agreed position on the draft plan, there will be further engagement with all interested parties, to ensure that the needs of patients, staff, the local and wider community are addressed.