Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

329 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Question No. 278 of 15 October 2002, if the meeting with representatives of Temple Street Children's Hospital has taken place; and if so, the outcome of this meeting. [22161/02]

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

335 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in the interests of public health, he will prevent an attempt to downgrade Temple Street Children's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22196/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 329 and 335 together.

I recently met the chairperson of the board of The Children's Hospital, Temple Street, and a number of other representatives of the hospital regarding the proposed transfer of a small number of specialist paediatric and neo-natal surgical operations to Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin.

The future provision and extent of paediatric surgery services was reviewed in 1998 by a committee established by Comhairle na nOspidéal. The committee was asked to consider this issue in the absence of agreement among the three paediatric hospitals on the nature and structure of a replacement consultant paediatric surgeon post which had arisen at Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin.

The comhairle recommended the concentration of a very small number of specialist paediatric and neo-natal surgical operations in Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, with all three paediatric hospitals continuing to provide non-specialist paediatric surgery and less complex urology services. I am advised by the comhairle that a very small percentage of the children undergoing paediatric surgical procedures at Temple Street would require access to the specialist surgical services under consideration. However, I am also aware of the concerns which have been raised by Temple Street hospital about the proposed transfer of this work. I propose to have further discussions with the comhairle and the Eastern Regional Health Authority with a view to progressing an early resolution to the continuing difficulties in this area.

In the wider context I will also progress a national review of paediatric services. The review will focus on the future organisation and delivery of hospital services for children. The aim of the review will be to enhance the range and level of services available at regional level and to determine the most effective configuration of the tertiary service. The scope for developing certain highly specialised services on an all-island basis will also be explored.