To ask the Minister of Health whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the cumulative impact on rural patients of the reduction or centralisation of emergency surgical services.

Specific changes to hospital services, either have been, or will be, the subject of a separate consultation process led by the individual HSC Trust or by my Department through its programme of regional service reviews. In considering the future model for services, Trusts are required to follow the Guidance on the Change and Withdrawal of Services. This includes appropriate engagement and assessment of impact as part of any proposals for service change. No service change decision can be taken outside of this established governance and assurance processes.

Some proposals to change or withdraw a service will be determined to be major and/or controversial. In such instances approval by my Department is required.