Vol. 571 No. 4
417 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns of the National Association of Health Boards regarding his proposals for the reorganisation of health boards, the contacts he has had with the association on the issue, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22095/03]
I am aware of the concerns of the National Association of Health Boards in relation to the health service reform programme announced by the Government on 18 June last. One of the key concerns of the Government was to communicate its vision of reform across the health system. A communication programme was launched as soon as the Government decisions were taken. The objective of the programme was to ensure that everyone in the system was fully informed about the content of the Government decision in relation to organisation reform in the health system, knew and understood the commitment to the consultation process and availed of the opportunity to have an input, individually and collectively, into developing the best way to implement the programme of reform.
The Secretary General of my Department and I engaged in a major exercise meeting directly with members and staff of health boards in July. In the course of these meetings I obtained at first hand a good cross-section of the spectrum of views being expressed by board members and staff in health boards. In addition, the Office for Health Management undertook a structured communications process with staff throughout the health service on behalf of my Department.
The set of reforms agreed by the Government involves modernisation of every aspect of the organisation, governance and management of the health system. As an integral part of the reform a new framework has been adopted for governance of the system.
