Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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194. To ask the Minister for Health further to the publication of the establishment of hospital groups as a transition to independent hospital trusts, if he will outline in precise terms the way patients who are currently served by the Mater hospital in Dublin will in future be served; if it is planned to disrupt or terminate existing consultant patient relationships or to reassign current patients to different consultants; and if he will set out the timescale that is being worked to. [42667/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The hospital groups are configured so as to facilitate the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care in a cost effective manner. I wish to assure the Deputy that appropriate patient care pathways will not be affected by the establishment of hospital groups.

In terms of timescale, within a year of establishment, the new hospital groups will be required to produce a strategic plan describing how they will provide more efficient and effective patient services; how they will reorganise these services to provide optimal care to the populations they serve; and how they will achieve maximum integration and synergy with other groups and all other health services, particularly primary care and community based services.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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195. To ask the Minister for Health further to the publication of the establishment of hospital groups as a transition to independent hospital trusts, if expectant mothers on the north side of Dublin will continue to have the option of attending the National Maternity Hospital for all maternity services [42668/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Patients will not be restricted in their choice as a result of the establishment of Hospital Groups. Expectant mothers may be referred by their GP to the hospital of their choice.