Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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1914. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); the plans, if any, that the HSE has to address the problems outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30831/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised me that there are a number of complex, contributory factors which are challenging the resumption normal services at the Regional Orthopaedic Unit at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan (OLHN).

The HSE has noted that the national guidelines on infection prevention and control of COVID 19 specifies a two-stream system at the Emergency Department (ED) and inpatient setting in order to reduce the risk of infection, including patient to patient spread. In addition, similar to many other hospitals, significant numbers of staff have not been available due to COVID illness.

The HSE has advised me that, compounding the above, there was a fire outbreak in the Hospital’s CIRRUS unit on 27th December 2021 which caused serious damage to that premises. This has significantly reduced options to stream COVID and non-COVID patients. It is expected that this Unit will reopen in August which should help provide some relief to the current situation.

The HSE has further advised that the presence of a 24 hour ED at the hospital impacts on its control over the number of acute patients presenting to the hospital.

The HSE has assured me that the hospital is making every effort to resume levels of services in the orthopaedic unit and to ensure the safe delivery of care required to those patients presenting to the Emergency Department.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy with any further updates on the matters raised.