Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1141. To ask the Minister for Health the procedures followed in the establishment of the hospital groups; the person who decided on the constituent hospitals for each group; if he is satisfied with the present composition of such groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34829/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The establishment of Hospital Groups was committed to in Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service 2012-2015and is a key building block in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to fundamentally reform our health services. Following Government approval, the Minister published two reports in May 2013: the Report on The Establishment of Hospital Groups as a transition to Independent Hospital Trusts, and Securing the Future of Smaller Hospitals: a Framework for Development. The establishment of acute hospitals into a small number of groups, each with its own governance and management, will provide an optimum configuration for hospital services to deliver high quality, safe patient care in a cost effective manner.

Recommendations on the formation of specific groups and arrangements for the management and governance of all groups weren included as part of the report The Establishment of Hospital Groups as a transition to Independent Hospital Trust. This report was based on a comprehensive consultation process, as well as a significant number of submissions from stakeholders and individual citizens. These recommendations were considered and endorsed by a Strategic Board that was chaired by Professor Higgins and was composed of representatives with national and international expertise in health service delivery, governance and linkages with academic institutions. In May last year both of these reports were submitted to Government for consideration and decision and both reports were accepted.