Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 514: To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the proposed merger of James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Dublin 15 and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33485/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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It is important that we organise our health services to make sure that we have safe and consistent treatment for patients across the country in a way which is affordable. This is being tackled through the clinical programmes and also through the re-organisation of our hospital system and the establishment of our hospitals into groups. The creation of hospital groups and trusts is at the heart of the Government's reforms of the acute hospital sector. In June the Minister 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.

Both Beaumont and Connolly Hospitals have had an opportunity to meet with Professor Higgins and to make a contribution to the fact finding phase of the work of this Board. In addition, both hospitals are working together on service developments including joint consultant posts and service re-alignments such as general urology moving from Beaumont Hospital into Connolly Hospital to facilitate an expansion of the National Kidney Transplant Programme and the continuing development of the National Cancer Programme at Beaumont Hospital. The final decision about the arrangements for hospital groups will be a matter for Cabinet.