Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Health when he will bring forward proposals on the formation of new hospital groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13933/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have a large number and range of acute hospitals in Ireland, all of which are held in high esteem and used mainly by local people for the majority of their hospital care. However, the provision of modern, high quality, safe care requires increasing levels of co-operation and overarching systems of governance and communication. We know that the traditional practice of providing as many services as possible in every hospital is neither sustainable nor safe. Experience in Ireland and abroad teaches us that a co-ordinated system of care rather than a sporadic approach from hospital to hospital is clearly better for patients. 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.

It was with this in mind that I appointed Professor John Higgins in June of last year to chair a strategic board on the establishment of hospital groups. I have received Professor Higgins’ 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 will shortly submit this report to Government for consideration and decision on the final formation of each hospital group.

I appreciate that this report and the related Government decision are anxiously awaited. However, this is the most radical and fundamental modernisation of our health system infrastructure since the State's foundation and I take very seriously my obligation to consider the report closely, 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 Government will decide on the initial make up of hospital groups which will be established on an administrative basis pending the legislation required to set up hospital trusts by 2015. Before these trusts are established, the composition and functioning of the groups will be reviewed and if changes prove necessary, then they will be made with Government approval when the hospital trusts are being formed.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The public is awaiting the publication of Professor Higgins's report and its consideration by Cabinet. It should be published as soon as possible. The Government has an obligation to consider it, but why not publish the 60 recommendations highlighted by the Minister so we can have a broad discussion on them?

I listened with great interest when the Minister stated he takes his position with regard to reconfiguration of hospitals seriously. This is a first for him, because when he was in opposition he took it anything but seriously. He was reckless in his commentary on many occasions, and completely irresponsible when it came to the issue of ensuring patient safety was a priority and that reconfiguration in certain areas was necessary. We have seen this with regard to the commitments made in Roscommon and Navan which clearly have been betrayed. The reconfiguration report should be published, rather than having a political brickbat on a continual basis, and indeterminable leaks to agitate the public and gauge public opinion to see where there is resistance and least resistance, pitting hospitals, public representatives and parties against each other.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A question please, Deputy.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want the Minister to publish the report as quickly as possible so we can have a fully informed debate. Does the Minister agree if the Government is making the decision, we can have a look at it and the Government can adjudicate on it and then make a decision based on its recommendations? The Minister should not object to the public and the Opposition having the report. Does the Minister agree with regard to previous commitments made on reconfiguration, with regard to Navan accident and emergency services and the retention of all key supports there, that the pledge being requested should be signed by all public representatives and all parties?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Kelleher seems to be in fine fettle today-----

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----making all sorts of allegations about the past.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Allegations?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Why do we not look at some of his past endeavours and those of his leader-----

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am on about statements-----

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I did not interrupt the Deputy.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister has accused me of allegations. That is a very serious offence.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is not unusual though.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Exactly, it is not unusual. Deputy Kelleher accused me of being reckless with regard to patient safety; I have been anything but. The issue with regard to Roscommon was a safety issue as demonstrated very clearly by HIQA. No matter what I sought to do with regard to resources, this could not be addressed so I had to take the action I did. However, I am very pleased to say this hospital's future is secure and more services are available there than when the decision was made. We now have the addition of rheumatology, plastic surgery and a sleep apnoea clinic to mention but a few of the services which were not available previously. Deputy Naughten has tabled a question and I am sure we will have more time to go into the Roscommon issue.

Since the outset my focus has been on outcomes for patients and not inputs and how many doctors, nurses or billions. My focus has been on how many patients are treated and how quickly, and how many have had to be readmitted because they were not treated correctly in the first instance. This is what I am about and we have shown we have been able to do this, even with a reduction in resources in terms of finance and personnel.

The report is the greatest shake-up of the hospital system since the foundation of the State and I will consider it closely. I do not wish to delay any longer than I must to do it properly.

The big difference between this Minister for Health and a former one, who is now Deputy Kelleher's party leader, is that when I publish a report I will act on it. I will not leave it sitting on a shelf as the Deputy's leader did with I do not know how many reports.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

When he was in opposition the Minister's priority was votes, and cynically so. Whether or not he has changed is still questionable.

In the context of the Higgins report, it was said that there were discussions between Waterford Regional Hospital and South Tipperary Hospital, and that they would be linked with Cork. In addition, it was reported that Wexford Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital would be linked with Dublin hospitals. There are clearly concerns about that because there have been claims of political interference in the decision-making process. The Minister should alleviate any such concerns because there has been political interference in other health areas concerning primary care centres and the funding of hospitals.

If the report is published, we will all know exactly what it recommends and can then have a political debate on it. Until it is published, however, there will obviously be concerns because there are continual leaks. In addition, there have been huge protests in the south east concerning Waterford Regional Hospital, and there are also concerns about Navan Hospital where the accident and emergency unit has been downgraded. In the latter case, commitments were made that a new hospital would be built prior to any service reduction in Navan. In the interests of transparency this report should be published quickly so that we can have a fully informed debate on it.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to correct the record of the House. My focus, and my reason for entering politics, is patient welfare. As a practising GP, I watched in frustration the ongoing shambles of a chaotic health service that had billions of taxpayers' money poured into it with no net effect. The consequence of that was that in January 2011, a mere two years ago, we had 569 people lying on trolleys despite the previous government and the then Minister for Health stating clearly that this would be treated as a national emergency. If that was how a national emergency was to be dealt with, God help us if we had a major national emergency. Of course, we did ultimately have such an emergency because we had to give away our financial sovereignty due to the mismanagement of the previous government.

The focus here is on outcomes for patients. It is about making this a service for patients and not a self-serving system which is what we inherited from the previous government.