Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:294 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children his timetable for the implementation of the health service reform programme published on 18 June 2003. [217826/03]
Written Answers. - Health Service Reform.
The challenges associated with the implementation of the health service reform programme are considerable. The project plan associated to the transition to the new structure will be complex. There will be a number of strands to implementation. I have already begun a detailed communications process which includes communicating the details of the health service reform programme to all of the stakeholders and conducting a consultation process regarding the appropriate pathways to implementation.
I will set about establishing robust structures to drive the implementation as soon as possible. This will include a national steering committee and a project office to oversee and progress implementation. One of their first tasks will be to prepare a detailed project plan setting out a timetable for the various elements of the reform programme.
The Government has also agreed to the establishment of an interim board of the health service executive as well as an interim national hospitals office. I intend putting these structures in place in the autumn to take early action on the advancement of the reorganisation of the hospital sector on the basis of the type of principles that it is understood will be emerging from the Hanly report to be published shortly.
In addition, I hope to make an early start on the internal restructuring of the Department itself. A number of action projects, for example around the new structures and organisations, the development of a governance framework, and the introduction of strengthened financial management and accountability will also commence in the autumn. An important input into the thinking of these groups will be the feedback from the consultation process with stakeholders which has commenced and will be completed in the autumn. It is intended that many of these projects will have specified outputs to be delivered in agreed timeframes. However, there are a number of projects which will have a longer timeframe and for which full implementation will need to be managed in the context of an agreed industrial relations protocol. The renegotiation of the consultants and general medical services contract will commence quickly but may take some time to complete.
While some elements referred to above can be established on a non-statutory administrative basis, a key element in the programme in the medium to long-term will be the development of a coherent legislation and regulatory framework for the new structures. This will provide for the development of the new structures and support the introduction of best practice governance and accountability within the system. This will take a longer period and will depend on the legislative timetable.
The early actions I have referred to are intended to send a clear signal for major structural reform and to engage the system quickly with the practicalities of the reform programme.
Question No. 295 answered orally with Question No. 123.