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Hospital Accommodation Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2013

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Questions (113, 142)

Michael McGrath

Question:

113. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the Higgins report on hospital reconfiguration will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22605/13]

View answer

Brian Stanley

Question:

142. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when the Higgins report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22567/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 142 together.

We know that the traditional practice of providing as many services as possible in every hospital is neither sustainable nor safe. The formation of Irish acute hospitals into a small number of groups, each with its own governance and management, will provide an optimum opportunity for hospital services to be configured to deliver high-quality, safe patient care in a cost-effective manner. Professor John Higgins chaired a Strategic Board on the establishment of Hospital Groups. I have received his report, which is based on a comprehensive consultation process and contains almost 60 recommendations on the formation, management and governance of hospital groups, all of which are strongly endorsed by the Strategic Board. I appreciate that this report and the related Government decision were anxiously awaited. As this is the most radical and most fundamental modernisation of our health system infrastructure since the State’s foundation, I took very seriously my obligation to consider the report closely and to assure myself and my Cabinet colleagues that it provides a robust basis to enable timely access to a high-quality and sustainable hospital service for those who need it. The Deputy will be pleased to learn that I submitted the report to the Government this morning for its consideration and decision. The report has been accepted. I will be publishing the report later this afternoon, together with the smaller hospitals framework.

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