Billy Kelleher
Question:845. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if there will be any reconfiguration of services at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5702/13]
View answerTuesday, 5 February 2013
Questions (845, 846, 847)
Billy Kelleher
Question:846. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if any services were withdrawn from Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County Meath, in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5703/13]
View answerBilly Kelleher
Question:847. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if any services were withdrawn from Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County Meath, in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5704/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 845 to 847, inclusive, together.
Recommendations on the formation of specific groups and arrangements for the management and governance of all groups have been drafted as part of a report on the establishment of hospital groups as a transition to hospital trusts. This report is based on a comprehensive consultation process, as well as a significant number of submissions from stakeholders and individual citizens. These recommendations have been considered and endorsed by a Strategic Board composed of representatives with national and international expertise in health service delivery, governance and linkages with academic institutions. The report on the establishment of hospital groups as a transition to independent hospital trust will be presented formally to me by the Chair of the Strategic Board, Professor John Higgins, in the near future. I will prioritise consideration of that report, which will then be submitted to and presented to Government for decision on the hospital groups composition in light of the recommendations of the Report.
The Framework for Smaller Hospitals defines the role of the smaller hospitals. It outlines the need for smaller hospitals and larger hospitals to operate together. The Framework outlines the wide range of services that can be provided within the smaller hospital. It defines the need for the smaller hospital to be supported within a group of hospitals in terms of education and training, continuous professional development, the sustainable recruitment of high quality clinical staff and the safe management of patients who present with varying levels of complexity. It also sets out to address the categories of services that should transfer from the larger to the smaller hospitals and vice versa within a Hospital Group so that services are delivered in the most appropriate hospital.
I am determined to ensure that as many services as possible can be provided safely and appropriately in smaller, local hospitals. On this basis, the organisation of hospital services nationally, regionally and locally will be informed by the ongoing development of the HSE Clinical Programmes. With this in mind the Framework will set out what services can and should be delivered safely by these hospitals in the interest of better outcomes for patients. In relation to the specific details for the years 2011 and 2012 sought by the Deputy, as these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.