Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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727. To ask the Minister for Health the number of new hospital groups that will be rebranding and renaming themselves following the recent changes by the West North West Hospital group; the details of any proposed rebranding by any of the groups; if his approval or that of Government is necessary for such changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41777/14]

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 2012-2015.Following Government approval, the two reports were published in May 2013: the “Report on The Establishment of Hospital Groups as a transition to Independent Hospital Trusts” (known as the Report on Hospital Groups),and “Securing the Future of Smaller Hospitals: a Framework for Development” (known as the Smaller Hospitals Framework). These Reports provide the foundations for the reorganisation of hospital services into Hospital Groups.

As noted in the Report on Hospital Groups, one of the key enablers in relation to the formation of hospital groups is the creation of a new identity and the adoption of a hospital group name to reflect realignment of hospitals. The naming of individual hospital groups is a matter for decision by the Hospital Group Boards, in consultation with the HSE. The HSE will inform the Department of Health in advance of any announcement or adoption of a new name for a Hospital Group and will also ensure consistency when using the hospital group name in any subsequent written or verbal communications relating to that Hospital Group.