Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
1192. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on a report (details supplied) regarding the establishment of hospital groups as a transition to independent hospitals trusts, presented to him in February 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14062/14]
View answerThe establishment of Hospital Groups was committed to in Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service 2012-2015 and is a key building block in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to fundamentally reform our health services. Following Government approval, the Minister published two reports in May 2013: the Report on The Establishment of Hospital Groups as a transition to Independent Hospital Trusts, and Securing the Future of Smaller Hospitals: a Framework for Development. The establishment of acute hospitals into a small number of groups, each with its own governance and management, will provide an optimum configuration for hospital services to deliver high quality, safe patient care in a cost effective manner.
Seven Hospital Groups have been established on a non-statutory administrative basis as follows: (i) Dublin North East; (ii) Dublin Midlands; (iii) Dublin East; (iv) South/South West; (v) West/North West; (vi) UL Hospitals Group and (vii) Children’s Hospital Group. Chairpersons for all seven Hospital Groups and Boards for three have already been appointed. The appointment of board members to the four outstanding Hospital Groups, including the South/South West Hospital Group, will be completed shortly.
Group CEOs are in place in five Hospital Groups as follows: West/North West, UL Hospitals Group, Children’s Hospital Group, Dublin North East Hospital Group and on an interim basis in the South/South West Hospital Group. The HSE is putting arrangements in place to ensure the appointment of Group CEOs to the two remaining Hospital Groups and the appointment of Group CEOs will be followed by appointments to group management teams.
Each hospital group will be required to develop a strategic plan within one year of establishment. The plans will describe how they will provide more efficient and effective patient services; reorganise these services to provide optimal care to the populations they serve; and how they will achieve maximum integration and synergy with other groups and all other health services, particularly primary care and community care services. The strategic plan for the South/South West Hospital Group will build on the significant work already under way in reconfiguring services in the South.
