Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016
432. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health when the national steering group established by him to develop policy on a major trauma system for Ireland will publish its first report; if the report will outline the group's recommendations in respect of St. Luke's General Hospital, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30416/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development of the trauma policy is a joint initiative from the Department of Health and the HSE, in recognition that we do not have a coordinated trauma network structure in Ireland. The focus for the development of a policy direction in relation to the strategic organisation of Ireland’s trauma service is to ensure that patients have access to the specific safe, high quality trauma services they need. The primary aim will be to improve patient outcomes and lead to a reduction in preventable death and disability. The future trauma system will build on the strengths of pre-hospital care, all of our acute hospitals and post-acute care and will require hospitals to work together to provide an optimal configuration of trauma services.
The Steering Group has been working with the Department of Health, the HSE and all relevant HSE National Clinical Leads, including Surgery, Pre-Hospital Emergency Care, Critical Care, Orthopaedics and Trauma on the development of the policy. This is still work in progress and the group has not yet made any recommendations. It is expected the Group's report will be completed later this year.
