Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 April 2004
12 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in the work of the implementation bodies for the East Coast Area Health Board and Mid-Western Health Board area in regard to the Hanly report; if an assessment has been undertaken of the costs of implementing the Hanly recommendations in each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10798/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI established the implementation groups relating to the Hanly Report in the east coast area and Mid Western Health Board regions on 27 February 2004. The groups include management and health professionals across all of the hospitals involved. They have been asked to develop a detailed action plan for the implementation of hospital reorganisation in the two regions, in line with the Hanly recommendations. The groups in the two regions will examine the costs as part of the implementation process.
Neither group has met to date because of industrial action taken by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association which includes non-participation in groups of this kind. While the pace of progress has been affected by the withdrawal of consultants from discussions, I am determined to advance implementation of the Hanly Report. I ask all parties to participate fully in the implementation process.
Several initiatives are under way at present to deal with accident and emergency services. These include prioritised planning for the discharge of patients by acute hospitals and increased liaison between hospital and community services; additional funds of €21.4 million to facilitate the discharge of patients from the acute system to a more appropriate setting; and additional emergency medicine consultant appointments — from 21 posts in 2000 to 51 posts approved by 1 January 2004. Subject to resolution of outstanding legal issues associated with the required regulatory changes, I intend to provide, at the earliest appropriate date, the necessary additional revenue funding to the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council for the roll-out of the training element of the emergency medical technician — advanced programme.
The Mid-Western Health Board has recently advertised for several emergency care physicians — fully registered doctors — to complement service delivery in emergency departments. I have also recently approved the appointment of the design team to prepare an outline development control plan for Ennis General Hospital. The plan will be prepared having regard to the development brief prepared by the project team which sets out the broad scope of the proposed future development at Ennis General and identified the priority areas for development.
