Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The alignment of Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) and Hospital Groups was set out by the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare as one of the fundamental principles underpinning healthcare reform. It recognised that the relationship between CHOs and Hospital Groups is critically important in the pursuit of connected care and patient-centred service delivery.

I believe that the views of health and social care professionals and of the Irish public are crucial in guiding the progress of this recommendation of the SláinteCare Report. For this reason I held a public consultation on the future alignment of Hospitals Groups and Community Health Organisations. This was launched on the Department’s website on 29 March and was open for submission until 23 May 2018.

The consultation asked respondents to provide their views on the importance of the geographic alignment of CHOs and Hospital Groups, the best way to achieve geographic alignment and opportunities which may arise from it.

Over 200 responses were submitted to this consultation. These responses are currently being considered and analysed by officials in my Department. A report containing the analysis and findings from all submissions will be published on my Department’s website within the coming months.