Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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831. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the establishment of the various hospital groups, in particular the Royal College of Surgeons group; if he will provide a timeframe for when he expects it to be possible for staff to transfer between non-Health Service Executive and Health Service Executive hospitals once the groups are established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22171/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Seven hospital groups, including the Children's Hospital Group, have been established on a non-statutory administrative basis. Chairpersons are in place for six hospital groups. The Saolta Group Chair role is being filled on an interim basis by an existing Board member pending appointment of a new Chair. Board members have been appointed to three out of seven hospital groups (Saolta, UL Hospitals Group and Children’s Hospital Group) and it is expected that Board members for the remaining groups will be in place shortly. Group CEOs have been appointed (with an interim CEO in Saolta Group) and considerable progress has been made in putting Group management teams in place. Specifically, the RCSI Hospitals core management team, which comprises a Chief Operating Officer, a Director of Nursing, a Clinical Director and a Chief Finance Officer is now in place.

My priority for 2015 is to get all the Hospital Groups up and running as single cohesive entities before then moving towards developing the appropriate underlying legislation as part of the wider structural reforms. A key step in this regard will be the development of Hospital Group Strategic Plans. The Strategic Advisory Group, established to provide objective advice and expertise on the implementation of Hospital Groups, is currently finalising a guidance paper on developing the strategic plans. This guidance will ensure a coherent approach nationally and will be provided to the Hospital Group Chairs to inform and assist them in developing their strategic plans. I understand that the Systems Reform Division in the HSE has also been engaging with the Group Chairs and Group CEOs and will be providing them with assistance in the development of their plans.

Essentially, in developing their plans, Hospital Groups will be expected to demonstrate a co-ordinated approach to the planning and delivery of services within and across the hospital groups, with an increased focus on small hospitals managing routine urgent or planned care locally and more complex care managed in the larger hospitals and appropriate deployment of staff is key to achieving this. Hospital Groups are subject to the Employment Control Framework and Public Service Pay Policy in respect of staff numbers, pay, terms, conditions and other relevant matters. However, as part of the drive to empower management, encourage innovation and ensure autonomy with real accountability, it is intended that the HSE will devolve authority to the Hospital Groups to recruit and deploy staff across the Group.