Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
1445. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been agreed upon to provide the appropriate resources to the accident and emergency department in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, identified in the HSE review of the closure of the accident and emergency department in Navan Hospital; if the review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1291/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has proposed a process of planned service changes at Our Lady's Hospital Navan and has advised that these changes are necessary to support safe service delivery on a sustained basis and are driven first and foremost by patient safety considerations.
No decision regarding the HSE’s proposal for the transition of the Emergency Department at Navan has been agreed by me or by government.
While recognising the very real clinical concerns identified, 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.
For this reason, I have asked the HSE to undertake a review of capacity. The review has been received and is currently under consideration.
