Posted 14 May 2013
DAMC welcomes new Dublin East Hospital Group
The Board of Dublin Academic Medical Centre (DAMC) welcomes the establishment of the Dublin East Hospital Group announced by the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly T.D. following the publication of “The Report on the Establishment of Hospital Groups as a transition to Hospital Trusts together with the report securing the Future of Smaller Hospitals: A Framework for Development”.
The Dublin East Group will comprise eleven hospitals in Leinster covering the full range of clinical tertiary and a number of quaternary services with University College Dublin as its academic partner and will support primary care practices serving upwards of 1 million people.
The hospitals are: Mater Misericordiae University Hospital; St Vincent's University Hospital; Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar; St Luke's General Hospital Kilkenny; Wexford General Hospital; National Maternity Hospital; Our Lady's Hospital Navan; St Columcille's Hospital; St Michael’s Hospital Dun Laoghaire; Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital; Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital.
Formed in 2007, DAMC is an alliance between the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group, the two leading voluntary acute hospitals in the State, and Ireland’s largest university, University College Dublin, creating a single governance and operational structure across the two hospital sites at Eccles Street, Dublin 7 and Elm Park, Dublin 4 based on the deployment of resources and shared services to improve clinical patient care, medical education and biomedical research in Ireland in close collaboration with the UCD College of Health Sciences.
The Chairman of DAMC, Mr Thomas Lynch commented “The Minister’s announcement of the formation of hospital groups is a very significant innovation in the delivery of acute hospital services in Ireland. DAMC is uniquely well placed to deliver, through its Group, improved superior health outcomes to its patients and the general population together with excellent training to healthcare professionals, by linking treatment, teaching and research capabilities.”
The President of UCD, Dr Hugh Brady added “DAMC will forge a Group that will facilitate rapid and effective transfer of research ideas into clinical practice and will apply the most up-to-date treatments and techniques in patient care. The Group will enable the UCD College of Health Sciences to advance its translational medicine research priorities; will provide improved facilities for clinical training of medical students and non-consultant hospital doctors; and facilitate the delivery of the Governments research prioritisation strategy”.
The Chairs of MMUH and SVHG Mr John B. Morgan and Professor Noel Whelan commented: “The evolution of the hospital system in Ireland and the DAMC centred Group, led by our hospitals with UCD is an opportunity to develop a truly patient-focused hospital system based on best international practice building on over 150 years of holistic and compassionate care for all patients regardless of means.”
It is intended to form an interim executive leadership team for the Group and work towards establishing an integrated corporate level service plan for the Group.
(Produced by UCD University Relations)
