Background to Co-location

In July 2005, the Irish Government issued a policy direction to the HSE under section 10 of the Health Act 2004 to implement the Co-located Private Hospitals Project. The project was aimed at freeing up additional beds for public patients in public hospitals and the development of private hospital facilities on public hospital sites.

No public land is being sold to successful bidders. The hospitals will be privately operated hospitals for the provision of health care to public and private patients alike and not exclusive to private patients.

The new co-located hospitals will allow for 24/7 admission from the public hospital, the public Emergency Department (ED), primary care centres and through GP referrals. They will have the capacity to treat all private patients currently catered for in Public Hospitals thereby freeing up public beds for additional public patients.

As part of the partnership approach between the public and co-located hospitals, where the Public Hospital is full and the Private facility has capacity, there will be a Service Level Agreement (SLA) in place for the Private hospital to take in Public patients. The reverse may also apply. Similarly, where there is a deficiency of certain medical equipment and other infrastructure in the public hospital, it has been agreed that the Private hospital may supply and enter a Service Level Agreement with the public facility to provide these services.