Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 March 2011
99 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to restore any or all of the services cut from Monaghan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5557/11]
View answer100 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to restore any or all of the services cut from Louth County Hospital, Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5558/11]
View answer101 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to restore any or all of the services cut from Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5559/11]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 101, inclusive, together.
I am committed to ensuring that as many services as possible can be provided safely in smaller, local hospitals. In order to fully consider the issues involved, I have sought a briefing from the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the plans for organising acute services in each region and on the important set of clinical programmes being developed by the HSE. These inter-related programmes are most important in terms of improving service quality and effectiveness, including ensuring that patients are treated at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely and efficient, whilst patient safety remains the first priority.
