Eamon Gilmore
Question:27 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children when he expects to receive the report of the recently established Primary Care Task Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12545/02]
Written Answers. - Primary Care Task Force.
In order to implement the primary care strategy effectively, I have recently established a small interdisciplinary task force of personnel drawn from my Department and from the health boards. This task force has already commenced work and has the task of driving forward the implementation of the primary care strategy on a national basis. This will be an ongoing task for several years into the future and the work of the task force will not be directed towards the production of a final report.
I am committed to working with the key stakeholders on the development of a structured programme for the phased implementation of the primary care model. This partnership approach will be achieved through ongoing participation in local and national structures. At national level, a steering group is being established to facilitate the involvement of a wide range of interests in developing the necessary plans. My Department is writing to the relevant bodies to invite nominations to the steering group, which will be chaired by Professor Ivan Perry, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork.