Reilly: Safety concerns 'do not mean hospital closures'

The Health Minister James Reilly has said if HIQA raises concerns that services are unsafe in certain hospitals it will not automatically mean those services are withdrawn.

Mr Reilly was answering questions before the Oireachtas Health Committee today, including some about the recent downgrade of Roscommon Hospital which had its Accident and Emergency Department closed.

Minister Reilly said when HIQA says something is unsafe "that does not mean closure" and that the Government will first try and make the services safe.

Mr Reilly said: "We seek to make safe all hospitals; we have closed no hospitals and we don't intend to close any hospitals.

"Different services will come from some hospitals and new services will go in. That's a two-way street and that will apply to the bigger hospitals."