The report of the Hospital Efficiency Review Group made recommendations on 15 broad functional headings. Under each heading further detailed recommendations were made aimed at improving the functional efficiencies of the hospitals concerned. No recommendation has been specifically rejected. The report is being considered by my Department and the management of the hospitals concerned. A hospital value for money steering group — which includes two assistant secretaries from my Department — has been established to progress those recommendations which are amenable to immediate intervention and appropriate action has already commenced with the full support of the relevant hospital chief executive officers/secretary managers.
As I have already indicated, I do not intend to make the report available for general publication as I regard it as confidential to the hospitals concerned — who gave the study their full co-operation on a confidential basis — and to those elements of the health service which can benefit from the general findings and recommendations.