Seán Ryan
Question:82 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the Brennan report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15595/04]
View answerWednesday, 26 May 2004
Questions (71)
Written answers
The Government's decision on the health service reform programme is based on the recommendations of the following key reports: the audit of structures and functions in the health system or the Prospectus report; the commission on financial management and control systems in the health service or the Brennan report; report of the national task force on medical staffing or Hanly report.
The new structure set out in this reform programme will provide a clear national focus on service delivery and executive management through reduced fragmentation and the creation of clear and unambiguous accountability throughout the system. Implementation of the programme is well underway.
I announced the establishment of the board of the interim HSE last November and the board has met on a number of occasions. The interim HSE is now established as a statutory body on foot of S.I. 90/04. Under the establishment order, the interim HSE has been given the task of drawing up a plan for the Minister's approval for the establishment of a unified management structure for the proposed new Health Service Executive; the integration of the existing health board structures into the new Health Service Executive; the streamlining of other statutory bodies, identified in the Prospectus report, to be incorporated in the new structure; the establishment of regional boundaries for the delivery of primary, community and continuing care services; the establishment of procedures to develop a national service plan for the delivery of health services; the establishment of appropriate structures and procedures to ensure the proper governance and accountability arrangements for the proposed Health Service Executive; and the appointment of a chief executive officer.
The interim executive has also been given the task of making the necessary preparations to implement this plan, subject to ministerial approval, so as to ensure as smooth a transition as possible from the existing health board structure to the new Health Service Executive structure. It is intended that the Health Service Executive will be established on a full statutory basis by January 2005. Work on the preparation of the necessary primary legislation is well underway.
The work to be undertaken by the interim HSE is one of four distinct but inter-related strands of activity which will take place under the reform programme during 2004. The other three strands are: aspects of the reform programme for which the Department of Health and Children has lead responsibility, including legislation, the establishment of HIQA, governance, streamlining of agencies, HR/IR, financial management/service planning and so forth; the work of the acute hospitals' review group chaired by Mr. David Hanly and the ongoing management of the health system and internal preparations for the new organisation and governance arrangements being led by the chief executive officers of health boards and the Health Boards Executive.
The Government has also appointed a national steering committee to oversee the implementation of the work programmes of the four strands. It provides a co-ordinating forum for actions being led in the respective strands and ensures overall consistency with the Government's decision. It will report to the Cabinet committee on the health strategy, ensuring that the Government is kept fully informed on all important issues.
A financial transition team made up of representatives from my Department and the interim HSE are working together to lay the ground work for the implementation of a number of the recommendations of the Brennan commission. It is expected that the team's work will be completed in time to enable the HSE to comply with the key recommendations of the commission when it takes over responsibility for the management of service delivery.
I am satisfied that the new arrangements, combined with the introduction of system wide best practice governance and accountability systems, will ensure a stronger more effective health system and an improved heath service for patients and clients.