Cross-border hospital linkages recommended in new report

Two major new health reports have been published on the future of smaller hospitals and re-organising the overall hospital system around six hospital groups, with the recommendation that the potential for formal cross-border hospital networks should be explored further in the future.

Both Cavan General Hospital and Monaghan Hospital have been included in a Dublin North East group alongside Beaumont Hospital; Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda;Connolly Hospital;Rotunda Hospital and Louth County Hospital.

No small hospital is to close but some services will transfer to bigger facilities, while smaller hospitals are due to gain other more routine services. Most of the ten smaller hospitals involved, including Our Lady's Navan and Louth County in the North East have already seen an end to their 24/7 Emergency Departments and the loss of major surgery, on grounds of safety.

Beaumont and Connolly Hospitals the report says have undertaken considerable preparatory work with this group’s primary academic partner, RCSI, to develop a strategic alliance. The Rotunda Hospital meanwhile will provide leadership in the North East in maternity services (obstetrics, midwifery and neonatology) and gynaecology services to all hospitals within the group including Cavan General.

As regards hospital care for patients living near the border, the report states “services for the region should develop cognisant of cross-border linkages and retain the potential to develop formal cross border hospital networks.”

The aim of the review is to better manage services and prepare the system for planned independent Trusts and Boards. Hospital groups its said will have their own budget, pool resources and posts will be filled centrally.

The development comes against the HSE’s latest performance report for March, which warns it could face “a very significant level of deficit” at year end if cost containment measures and other controls are not achieved.