Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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355. To ask the Minister for Health if Ireland has a trauma director for the trauma services provided; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50068/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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356. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients admitted and treated for trauma injuries in hospitals in each of the years 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50069/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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357. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to centralise trauma care on two centres of excellence, as recently reported; the hospitals that are proposed to be downgraded; the hospitals that are proposed to be upgraded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50070/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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358. To ask the Minister for Health the hospitals which treat trauma injuries; the trauma level each is currently at, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50071/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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359. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the north west and the south east in the event of Dublin and Cork being established as major trauma centres; the precautions that will be taken to ensure that these critical masses of population would have adequate cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50072/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 to 359, inclusive, together.

In 2015, my predecessor as the Minister for Health established a Trauma Policy Steering Group, chaired by Professor Eilis McGovern, to make recommendations in relation to the development of a trauma system for Ireland. Patients who have used trauma services and clinicians were at the heart of the development of the plan. The Trauma Steering Group completed its final report in July 2017 and I intend to bring it to Government before the end of the year.

This report is about delivering best outcomes for the small number of patients each year who suffer major trauma, that is, injuries which have the potential to cause prolonged disability or death, and ensuring they get the right care in the right place at the right time. International evidence demonstrates that trauma systems are associated with better patient outcomes, improved access to care and reduced length of stay and cost-effectiveness, more lives being saved and fewer people being left with a disability.

Following on from recent media reports, it is important to say that the report is not about closing Emergency Departments or diminishing services. Traumatic injuries may be low, moderate or severe. Major trauma involves injuries which have the potential to cause prolonged disability or death. Based on available data, it is estimated that Ireland has approximately 1,600 major trauma patients each year. To put this in context, Emergency Departments provide 24/7 access for emergency and urgent presentations across the spectrum of medical and surgical conditions, with 1,157,074 new ED attendances in 2016.

In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy in relation to the number of patients admitted and treated for trauma injuries in hospitals in each of the years 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017 and the hospitals that treat trauma injuries and the trauma level each is currently at, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.