Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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555. To ask the Minister for Health the status of regional health area development; the status of the implementation actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3028/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Mar is eol don Teachta, the Government approved the geographies for six new Regional Health Areas (RHAs) as well as a detailed business case and change management programme for their implementation in July 2019. The Government is fully committed to the implementation of RHAs, as outlined in the 2020 Programme for Government, the Department of Health Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, the HSE Corporate Plan 2021-2023 and the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2023.

In line with the Government decision of July 2019, a Business Case for the implementation of Regional Health Areas was drafted and is at an advanced stage following engagement with the HSE and other key stakeholders late last year. This will inform the enabling workstreams to be undertaken this year. Once the recommended policy option has been finalised, a memorandum will be prepared for Government with the expectation that this will go to Cabinet for decision in Q1 2022.

A Regional Health Areas Advisory Group has been established to provide a range of perspectives from across health and social care. As work progresses to implement the six RHAs and align the integration of care, the members of the RHA Advisory Group will provide support and guidance as the Department of Health and HSE plan for the transition towards RHAs.

As part of the implementation planning process, Department and HSE Leads have been nominated to the joint RHA Implementation Team. Work on an implementation plan for the transition to RHAs has begun. The RHA Implementation Team will report to the Sláintecare Programme Board on a regular basis.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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556. To ask the Minister for Health the status of elective centre development; if there is potential for overnight capacity being factored into procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3029/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Cross Party Sláintecare Report in 2017 articulated a new vision for healthcare in Ireland, including the provision of elective only hospitals, providing protected capacity for elective care. The “Elective Hospitals Oversight Group”, under the joint governance of the Health Service Executive, Department of Health and Sláintecare, has been guiding the development of the elective hospital proposals, following the process outlined in the updated Public Spending Code, setting out the value for money requirements for the evaluation, planning, and management of large public investment projects.

In December 2021 the Government agreed, subject to the necessary approvals and requirements under the Public Spending Code being met, a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. This new strategy aims to change the way in which day case, scheduled procedures, surgeries, scans and outpatient services can be better arranged to ensure greater capacity in the future and help to address waiting lists. The development of additional capacity will be provided through dedicated, standalone Elective Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin.

The elective care scope of service will be developed in two phases commencing with day cases, diagnostics, and outpatients and then by in-patient treatment. On this basis, the Elective Care Centres (ECCs) will be designed to provide sufficient capacity to facilitate future phases, including some elective in patient capacity, thereby providing a sustainable and strategic response to cater for the highly dynamic landscape of healthcare policy and practice.

Individual Preliminary Business Cases for each location are at an advanced stage of development. and will be subject to technical review by the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Pending favourable review(s) under the Public Spending Code, that further memoranda for Government would then be brought forward to progress this proposal for Cork, Galway and Dublin.