Written answers

Tuesday, 2 May 2017

Department of Health

National Maternity Hospital

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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941. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the ownership of the National Maternity Hospital; his further views on whether it should be retained in State ownership and control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19766/17]

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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942. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has been in communication with the National Maternity Hospital regarding changing the charter of the hospital. [19767/17]

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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943. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 630 of 11 April 2017, his views on changing the current composition of the National Maternity Hospital governance structures in order that there is no ex-officio religious representation. [19768/17]

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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945. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for awarding the new maternity hospital to a group (details supplied); the ownership and governance structure of this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19782/17]

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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952. To ask the Minister for Health his rationale for giving the new maternity hospital to a religious congregation; and the way in which the public interest will be entirely protected in view of the fact that the independence of the new maternity hospital at St. Vincent's will be copper fastened by reserved powers and a golden share held by the Minister for Health of the day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19815/17]

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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984. To ask the Minister for Health if procedures not in line with Roman Catholic teaching will not be prevented or hampered in any way at the National Maternity Hospital in view of the new relationship with a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19968/17]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 941 to 943, inclusive, 945, 952 and 984 together.

Following extensive mediation discussions, agreement was reached late last year between the St.Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG) and the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) on the relocation of the NMH to the Elm Park campus. The terms of the agreement, which has now been published,provides for the establishment of a new company - "The National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park DAC (limited by shares)”.

The new company will have clinical and operational, as well as financial and budgetary independence in the provision of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services. This independence will be assured by the reserved powers which are set out in the agreement and will be copperfastened by the golden share which will be held by the Minister for Health of the day. These reserved powers can only be amended with the unanimous written approval of the Directors and with the approval of the Minister for Health. The Board of the new NMH will comprise nine directors; four nominated by SVHG, four by NMH, including the Master, and one will be an international expert in obstetrics and gynaecology. Two of the NMH Directors will also sit on the SVHG Board.

The agreement ensures that a full range of health services will be available at the NMH at Elm Park without religious, ethnic or other distinction. In that regard, I welcome the confirmation by the Board of SVHG that any medical procedure, which is in accordance with the laws of this State, will be carried out at the new hospital.

I should also acknowledge that the SVHG is making valuable land available, at no cost to the State, to facilitate the new NMH. In doing so, they have foregone the opportunity to put this land to alternative use.

As set out in the agreement, the establishment of the new company will necessitate an amendment of the NMH Charter; however as we are still in the very early stages, my Department has not yet been in communication with the NMH in relation to this issue.

Now that the planning application for the development has been submitted we must now turn our focus to the legal mechanisms necessary to operationalise the agreement. The hospital will be publicly funded, built on lands in the ownership of the SVHG and operated by the new company. Over the next few weeks I will meet with both hospitals and will consider further the legal mechanisms necessary to absolutely protect the State's considerable investment in the hospital, including the issue of ownership of the new facility. Prior to the HSE entering into any construction contract, I will formally sanction the necessary arrangements to ensure that the facilities are legally secured on an on-going basis for the delivery of publicly funded maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services commitments. I should add that over the years we have made very significant capital investment in voluntary hospitals, and no issues have ever arisen in relation to same. I therefore do not foresee any difficulty in this regard.

I intend to report to Government on this project at the end of May. At that stage I expect to have further details on the legal and other arrangements envisaged and will make this information available publicly. This will allow for the necessary clarity well in advance of contractual or other commitments being entered into in respect of this project.

Finally, I would like reaffirm my commitment to this hugely important project. The facilities at Holles St are no longer fit for purpose. It is also acknowledged that for optimal clinical outcomes, maternity services should be co-located with adult acute services. I look forward to working with all stakeholders to deliver the new National Maternity Hospital which is so badly needed to provide women and infants with modern healthcare facilities.

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