DUBLIN’S BEAUMONT and Connolly hospitals are expected to be merged by the end of the year, staff have been told.
The plan is to have one board running both hospitals but it is unclear as yet what the implications may be for staff with similar management jobs at both hospitals.
The development, which has been planned for some time, was approved by the Health Service Executive (HSE) board but in a statement yesterday the hospitals said “the completion of all arrangements currently being negotiated . . . will be subject to approval by the Minister for Health and Children”. It is understood the matter is to be discussed by the hospitals with Minister for Health Dr James Reilly in coming days.
Beaumont has over 700 beds and has its own board whereas Connolly hospital with more than 400 beds has up to now been run by the HSE. Both will come under one board or governance structure under the new arrangements.
The merged hospitals would have close to 4,000 staff and serve a catchment area of approximately 620,000.
Talks on the merger of the two hospitals to develop a new academic health centre in north Dublin started in May 2008 and resulted in the signing of a formal partnership agreement in June 2009.
In their statement, the hospitals said the merger will facilitate greater access to new and improved services for patients, “offering the possibility of cross-site resource sharing, with associated potential cost benefits”.
They said it will also open up new service planning and service delivery options, as well as enhancing the training, education and research opportunities available on both sites.
Unions representing staff at Connolly hospital were briefed on the development in recent days and were told the merger was expected to be completed by December 31st. Briefings for Beaumont staff are also planned.