Billy Timmins
Ceist:171 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the implications for St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, following the publication of the Hanly report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29512/03]
Written Answers. - Hanly Report Proposals.
Billy Timmins
Ceist:172 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the current arrangements at St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, for accident and emergency services; the nature of same under the Hanly report proposals; when these proposals will be implemented with respect to Loughlinstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29513/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together.
Under the Hanly report's proposals, St. Columcille's Hospital will be developed as a local hospital. The report recommends investment in local hospitals such as St. Columcille's so they are in a position to provide most of the local population's needs for hospital care. Improvements proposed include: a greatly expanded proportion of elective day surgery and elective medical procedures for the region in a range of specialties. This will involve an increasing volume of elective procedures that are often currently performed in the larger hospitals; a strong focus for locally accessible multi-specialist day and out-patient – OPD – care; prenatal and postnatal maternity services; a point of access for general practitioners to services and diagnostic facilities; and rehabilitation and long-stay care.
The report proposes that St. Columcille's will have the services of a number of health professionals giving people access to a wider range of hospital services in their local hospital than ever before. The report also states that a full range of acute hospital services should be available within the East Coast Area Health Board region, so that patients should not have to travel outside the region other than for specialised supra-regional or national level services. This will ultimately involve the appointment of an additional 129 consultants to the East Coast Health Board region. These consultants would work in local hospitals, including St. Columcille's Loughlinstown.
On accident and emergency services, the Hanly report recommends that St. Columcille's hospital should provide a minor injury and illness service. This would cater for up to 80% of patients currently attending the hospital's accident and emergency department.
Emergencies in the community will be catered for by ambulance personnel with advanced training who can provide immediate treatment at the site of the accident or illness and then bring the patient to the hospital best equipped to provide high quality care.
Membership of an implementation project group in the east coast areas will be announced shortly. The report emphasises that implementation of its recommendations should be on a phased basis. This means that services would not be altered until each hospital is properly equipped and resourced for its new role.