Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2022
407. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if any of the planned elective only hospitals will provide more complex elective surgeries that require recovery beds; the location of such hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10727/22]
View answerThe Cross Party Sláintecare Report in 2017 articulated a new vision for healthcare in Ireland, including the provision of elective only hospitals, providing protected capacity for elective care. The “Elective Hospitals Oversight Group”, under the joint governance of the Department of Health and Health Service Executive, has been guiding the development of the elective hospital proposals, following the process outlined in the updated Public Spending Code, setting out the value for money requirements for the evaluation, planning, and management of large public investment projects.
In December 2021 the Government agreed, subject to the necessary approvals and requirements under the Public Spending Code being met, a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy which will change the way in which day case, scheduled procedures, surgeries, scans and outpatient services can be better arranged to ensure greater capacity in the future and help to address waiting lists. The development of additional capacity will be provided through dedicated, stand-alone Elective Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin.
The Elective Hospitals will provide additional capacity and help address waiting lists, while being as flexible and adaptable as possible to facilitate a future phase, which would include some elective in-patient treatment. Day procedures offered in the first phase will include Gastrointestinal, Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, and Orthopaedics.
