Written answers

Thursday, 31 March 2022

Department of Health

National Maternity Hospital

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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23. To ask the Minister for Health the rationale for handing over control of the proposed new national maternity hospital to the St. Vincent's Hospital Group as set out in the proposed new corporate structure, under which the new hospital is to become a wholly owned subsidiary of the group; his views on whether this will allow St. Vincent's hospital to determine the services to be provided; his further views on the fact this arrangement will not protect the substantial public investment in the new maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17036/22]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is well known that the proposed corporate and clinical governance arrangements for the new National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park were set out in the Mulvey Agreement.

That Agreement was finalised in 2016 following an extensive mediation process between the NMH and the St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group and it has also been published.

The Mulvey Agreement provides for the establishment of a new company, the National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park DAC, which will operate the new maternity hospital.

While this new entity will be a subsidiary of St Vincent’s Healthcare Group, it will have clinical and operational, as well as financial and budgetary, independence in the provision of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services. This is set out clearly in Mulvey.

The draft legal framework that has been developed is designed to copperfasten these arrangements, and to provide assurance that all legally permissible services will be provided in the new NMH as they are in the current hospital building at Holles Street.

In addition, the draft legal framework will protect the State's investment in this once-in-a-generation new hospital.

I have been very clear that I will not bring any proposal to Government unless it provides absolute assurance around these objectives.

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