Liam Fitzgerald
Question:11 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health when he will introduce the organisational structures contained in the Health Boards Bill. [4567/95]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Eastern Health Board Structures.
(Limerick East): I am committed to bringing forward legislation to facilitate the creation of new health board structures, as outlined in the Programme for a Government of Renewal. I intend to give priority to the reform of structures in the Eastern Health Board area and the preparation of legislation in that regard is already under way in my Department.
I am happy to learn that the Minister is giving priority to the reform of structures in the Eastern Health Board area. Does he have any recommendations in mind which he will progress and develop further before he incorporates them in a Bill dealing with the Eastern Health Board? Is he satisfied — I assume from his reply that he is not — that the Eastern Health Board is working at maximum efficiency and is delivering a high standard of service both in quantitative and qualitative terms? I am not sure that this is the case. When does he hope to be in a position to make recommendations on the reform of the structures in the Eastern Health Board area?
(Limerick East): It is too early for me to tie myself into a timetable but work is ongoing in the Department.It is not too late to get the views of the members of the health board or Deputies. The work to be carried out is not yet set in concrete or beyond the point of influence. I am extremely concerned about the Eastern Health Board and would like any reform proposals to be effective in remedying the problems with which people who are aware of the service provided by the health board are familiar.
Will the Minister elaborate on the areas in the Eastern Health Board about which he is extremely concerned?
(Limerick East): I will do so in due course.
It is not good enough for the Minister to say that he will elaborate on this point in due course. The concern outlined by Deputy Fitzgerald is shared by most of the people who avail of the services provided by the Eastern Health Board and by many of those employed by the board. It is appropriate, therefore, for the Minister to outline in a general way his extreme concerns about the Eastern Health Board.
(Limerick East): I do not want to be drawn into a debate on the Eastern Health Board in the context of a question which simply asked if I was still committed to introducing new organisational structures for the Eastern Health Board. I will return to this matter at a later stage and have no doubt that the Deputy will raise it again. My primary concern is to ensure that an effective service is delivered in a sympathetic and professional way to people in the Eastern Health Board area.
Has the Minister any proposals to reorganise structures in other health board areas?
(Limerick East): A number of reports are available to my Department, for example, the 1989 report of the Commission on Health Funding, the 1990 Kennedy report of the Dublin hospital initiative group and the 1990 Fox report of the hospital efficiency review group. In 1991 the Minister for Health announced the Government had agreed that he should prepare legislation to provide for a single new authority responsible for all health, personal and social services in the Eastern Health Board area. It was also proposed that the legislation would address the roles and responsibilities of all health boards and their chief executive officers. Following the Minister's announcement a consultation process was initiated.
The framework document proposed that legislation should be introduced to provide for a new authority in the eastern area and to remedy the deficiencies which had been identified in all health boards. A number of principles were outlined in the strategy. I will proceed with the proposals on the Eastern Health Board area separately from the proposals on the other health board areas. However, this does not mean I will not give consideration to the other health board areas in due course. The needs of the Eastern Health Board area are more pressing at present.
Does the Minister envisage devolving more powers to the health boards? Given his extreme concern about the operation of the Eastern Health Board and the quantity and quality of service it delivers, it is imperative that whatever proposals he has are brought forward at the earliest possible date.
(Limerick East): I agree with the Deputy. I do not wish to be churlish but I wish to remind him that his party was in Government for seven years and I have only been in office since 15 December last. Very little work has been done to remedy the problem in terms of structures.
We will support the Minister.
We are right behind him.
(Limerick East): The Deputy will be pleased to hear that I am starting from a green field position.
It is often the best place to start.
(Limerick East): I will be able to take his views into account and will not be encumbered by any structures which I inherited from my predecessors.
One of whom was a Labour Minister.
I am very encouraged by the Minister's remarks.