Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1668. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he has read a report titled Recommended Location of a New Regional Acute Hospital in the North East which was produced for the HSE by an organisation (details supplied); and his views on its recommendation that Navan, County Meath should be the location for a new hospital. [39760/22]
View answerThe report referred to by the Deputy was superseded by the Government's decision, in 2013, to re-organise acute hospitals into Hospital Groups.
The Smaller Hospitals Framework which was published and approved by Government in 2013 included a list of nine designated Model 2 Hospitals, including Our Lady’s Hospital Navan. Since then, many acute Hospitals have transitioned to Model 2 Hospital arrangements in line with the Smaller Hospital Framework. These transitions have been safe and effective with improved outcomes for acutely ill and critically ill patients presenting. Navan will be the last of those hospitals to transition to Model 2.
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.
