Vol. 545 No. 5
141 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans regarding the future of Comhairle na n-Ospidéal; the functions of the new national hospitals authority; and the future function of Comhairle na n-Ospidéal. [31146/01]
142 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to abolish Comhairle na n-Ospidéal. [31147/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the strategy, section 80, page 102, identifies a need for an independent agency which can provide expert, objective advice on specialty distribution, bed distribution, the future configuration of existing hospitals and the priority attached to the development of individual services and specialties in acute hospitals throughout the country.
Comhairle na n-Ospidéal is an independent agency with the statutory function of advising the Minister for Health and Children on each of these issues. Since 1972, it has published 80 reports on the development of hospitals and individual specialties. Comhairle also regulates appointments of consultants and senior registrars.
The functions of the National Hospitals Agency are set out in the health strategy as follows: to prepare a strategic plan for expanding the capacity of acute hospitals; to advise on the organisation and development of all acute hospital services; to advise on the designation and funding of national specialist services; to facilitate closer linkages with the private hospitals sector; to liaise with regulatory and professional bodies on matters affecting acute hospitals; and to manage a new national waiting time database.
