David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

804. To ask the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from clinicians at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan on the status of the Emergency Department at Navan Hospital in 2022, if so, the number of clinicians who signed any correspondence; the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39355/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

805. To ask the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from clinicians at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda on the status of the Emergency Department at Navan Hospital in 2022, if so, the number of clinicians who signed any correspondence; the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39356/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

821. To ask the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from the CEO of the HSE on the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital in 2022; if so, the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39386/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

822. To ask the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence from the National Clinical Director of the HSE on the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital to date in 2022; the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39387/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

823. To ask the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from the Clinical Director of the RCSI Hospital Group on the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital in 2022; if so, the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39388/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

824. To ask the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from the manager of Our Lady’s Hospital Navan on the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital in 2022; if so, the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39389/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

825. To ask the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from the manager of Our Lady’s Hospital Navan on the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital in 2022; the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39390/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

826. To ask the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from the manager of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda on the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital in 2022; if so, the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39391/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 804, 805, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825 and 826 together.

The following correspondence has been received regarding the status of the Emergency Department in Our Lady's Hospital Navan (OLHN) in 2022:

- A letter from a clinician working in OLHN on 15th June 2022, offering their perspective of working in the hospital;

- A letter signed by the Manager, Clinical Director, Director of Nursing and the Patient Safety and Operations Manager of OLHN on the 7th of July reiterating the risks associated with critically ill patients presenting to the emergency department at OLHN;

- A letter signed by 17 clinicians working in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda on the 27th of June 2022. This expressed concern at the impact that the proposed reconfiguration of Navan Hospital would have on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda;

- A letter signed by six physicians in the Royal College of Surgeons' Ireland Hospital Group on the 1st July 2022. This letter also highlighted the potential impact of the proposed reconfiguration of OLHN on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

I can confirm that no correspondence specific to the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital has been received from the CEO of the HSE. I can also confirm that I have no record of correspondence on this matter from the National Clinical Director of the HSE, the Clinical Director of the RCSI or the manager of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

While the very real clinical concerns identified by the HSE are recognised, the Government is clear that several important issues, including additional capacity in other hospitals impacted and the continued ability of people in the Navan area to access emergency and urgent care, would need to be fully addressed before any proposed transition by the HSE.

I have asked the HSE to undertake a process to review, validate and stress test the reconfiguration planning. My Department is currently engaging with the HSE in relation to this process, with a view to it being completed within a matter of weeks.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

806. To ask the Minister for Health if he has met the National Ambulance Service specifically in respect of the proposed closure of the Emergency Department in Navan; the date that the meeting took place; the matters that were discussed and or agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39357/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On the 13th of June, the Director of the National Ambulance Service attended a meeting where I asked the HSE to outline its proposal for the transition of the Emergency Department at Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan and to consult with elected representatives on behalf of the local community.

Several important issues were raised, including capacity at other impacted hospitals, which need to be fully addressed. I have asked the HSE to undertake a process to review, validate and stress test the reconfiguration planning. My Department is currently engaging with the HSE in relation to this process, with a view to it being completed within a matter of weeks.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

807. To ask the Minister for Health the specific additional capacity that he has sought from the HSE as part of reconfiguring Emergency Department services at Navan Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39358/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has proposed a process of planned service changes at Navan Hospital. I have asked the HSE to undertake a process to review, validate and stress test the reconfiguration planning. My Department is currently engaging with the HSE in relation to this process, with a view to it being completed shortly.

Since 2019, the number of WTE at Our Lady's Hospital Navan has increased from 516 to 590, which is an increase of over 14%. In terms of beds, Navan Hospital is currently a Model 3 acute general hospital with 62 medical beds which is an increase on the 58 it had at the end of 2018.

There has benn considerable capital invesetment in Navan Hospital in recent years, including E6.35m to upgrade the day surgery area, refurbish the medical ward and extend the rheumatology clinic. A further sum of E2.5m is to be spent in the future, including E1.3m on upgrades to the medical assessment unit and local injuries unit.

As part of increasing ambulatory and day surgery capacity at Navan, the HSE has advised that a second theatre has been completed. This will increase capacity from around 2,500 elective surgical procedures each year to nearly 5,000. As well as the new second general theatre, a new day ward, an expanded recovery room, a new laboratory, a new rehab unit and a new psychiatric day ward have all been completed at Navan recently. Future development plans include a new rheumatology day centre and new endoscopy suite with 4 endoscopy rooms. Confirmation of other investment requirements and plans, including for the longer-term at Navan, will be set out as part of the HSE’s planning.