Mary Harney
Question:78 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the failure to include a representative of general practitioners on the new Tallaght Hospital Board. [14852/96]
Written Answers. - Tallaght Hospital Board.
Limerick East): The draft of the order amending the Adelaide Hospital Charter to form the legislative basis for the governance of the new hospital at Tallaght contains specific provisions regarding the composition of the board of management. Those provisions reflect the terms of an agreement reached in May 1993 by the three hospitals transferring to Tallaght, the Adelaide, Meath and National Children's Hospital, and agreed to by Government.
Specifically, the draft order provides for the establishment of a statutory board comprising 23 members. Fifteen members will be appointed by the Adelaide Hospital Society, the Meath and National Children's Hospitals; six members shall be appointed, from among the persons nominated by the President of the hospital, by the Minister for Health; one member shall be appointed on the nomination of the Eastern Health Board or any successor to its functions by the Minister for Health; and one member shall be appointed on the nomination of the board of Trinity College, Dublin by the Minister for Health. Members of the board shall hold office for a period of three years. It shall be open to each of the bodies referred to above to nominate a general practitioner to the new board if they so wish.
Generally, and in line with the health strategy, the new acute hospital at Tallaght must be seen as part of a multifunctional and integrated health system. For example, it will be important for the hospital to complement the role of the general practitioner as the first point of contact with the health service and to ensure that patients are not unnecessarily referred to hospital for services which should be provided by general practitioners. I will, therefore, be expecting the board to develop its services in keeping with this policy to ensure that an appropriate balance is struck between the provision of services in the hospital setting and in the community.