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Hospital Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 June 2012

Thursday, 14 June 2012

Ceisteanna (160)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

162 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when he expects hospital trusts to be established nationwide; if he expects services to be rationalised or cut as part of this move; the appointees to the hospital groups established; the salaries of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28772/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The establishment of hospital trusts is an important stepping stone towards the introduction of universal health insurance which is the ultimate destination of the Government's reform programme. The rationale behind the establishment of hospital groups and trusts is to support increased operational autonomy and accountability for hospital services in a way that will drive the optimum service reforms. Performance improvement must be at the heart of the national reform programme: the creation of hospital groups and trusts is integral to a stronger and more systematic process of performance management for hospitals.

Earlier this week, I announced the appointment of Professor John R Higgins to work with the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) in the role of Chair of a Strategic Board to assist the Department of Health in the design and establishment of Hospital Groups. As Chair, he will have a key role in progressing the creation of Hospital Groups initially and, ultimately, Independent Hospital Trusts.

I have also announced the appointments of Mr Noel Daly as Chair-designate of the Galway Roscommon University Hospital Group and Professor Niall O'Higgins as Chair-designate of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital Group. The term of the appointments is for three years and the boards of the groups will be established initially on a non-statutory basis. I intend that the Chairs will be remunerated subject to the normal conditions. The two new hospital group Chairmen, working in consultation with the Chair of the Strategic Board, will have key roles in the development of effective corporate and clinical governance structures for their hospital groups along with the quality and safety of systems of care in place for patients of those hospital groups.

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