Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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362. To ask the Minister for Health when services will be rolled out at a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10817/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The establishment of hospital groups has enabled a better configuration of hospital services with benefits relating to safety, quality, access, cost and sustainable medical staffing.  The structure ensures that hospitals working together in a group will be able to support each other, providing a stronger role for smaller hospitals in delivering less complex care, and ensuring that those who require emergency or complex planned care are managed safely in larger hospitals.

The Smaller Hospitals Framework focuses in particular on the future role of smaller hospitals and outlines the wide range of services that can be provided within these smaller hospitals.

I am committed to securing and further developing the role of our smaller hospitals, including Model 2 hospitals such as Monaghan Hospital, with the expansion of services delivered in these hospitals, especially in services such as day surgery; ambulatory care; medical services and diagnostics.

The planning and management of future health expenditure is considered as part of the annual estimates and budgetary process which seeks to balance available funding across all service areas to achieve the best possible outcomes for the greatest number of service users and prioritise areas of greatest need.

 In response to the particular query raised, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you as soon as possible outlining any specific investment plans at Monaghan Hospital.