Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the co-location policy; her views that the Voluntary Health Insurance, VHI, will not cover its customers in co-located private hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41978/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I recently met with the preferred bidders for the co-location hospital projects at Beaumont, Cork and Limerick (Beacon Medical Group) and St. James's Hospital (Synchrony) to receive an update from them on the progress they have made so far.

I also met recently with the Chair and Chief Executive of the Voluntary Health Insurance Board on a number of matters. During the discussion I raised with them the VHI's decision not to cover customers in co-located hospitals, and asked them to review their position on the matter having regard to the benefits that co-location will bring to patients. I emphasised that I have no role in the commercial decisions of private health insurers, and that all insurers are free to choose the service providers who they believe will best meet the needs of their customers. The VHI agreed to consider the matter further and to revert to me. The co-location programme is a complex public procurement process and the HSE will continue to work with the preferred bidders to provide whatever assistance it can to help them advance the projects.