Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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883. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the introduction of cardiology services in Kerry General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1521/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Last May, I published the Government's plan to reorganise public hospitals into more efficient and accountable Hospital Groups which will harness the benefits of increased independence and greater control at local level. The establishment of acute hospitals into a small number of groups, each with its own governance and management, will, I believe, provide an optimum configuration for hospital services to deliver high-quality, safe patient care in a cost effective manner. The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of hospital groups was committed to in ‘Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform’ and is a key building block in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to fundamentally reform our health service.

Hospital Groups will be required, within one year, to develop a strategic plan which will outline 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 health services, particularly primary care and community based services. The role of individual hospitals within each group will be considered in detail in the context of this strategic plan.

Kerry General Hospital is part of the South/South West Group along with Cork University Hospital/CUMH; Waterford Regional Hospital; Mercy University Hospital; South Tipperary General Hospital; South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital; Bantry General Hospital; Mallow General Hospital, and Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene. It will therefore be a matter for the South/South West Group to determine where services, including cardiology, will be located within the Group, taking into account the health needs of the population as well as Government policy.