Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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696. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to move services currently available at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3313/20]

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.  The Department of Health is committed to securing and further developing the role of our smaller hospitals, including Model 3 hospitals such as Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, with the expansion of services delivered in these hospitals, especially in services such as day surgery; ambulatory care; medical services and diagnostics.

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.