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Health Reform Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004

Tuesday, 22 June 2004

Questions (22, 23)

Dinny McGinley

Question:

19 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Health and Children about the representation of members of the medical profession in the new health structures. [18454/04]

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Written answers

The health service reform programme is based on the Government's decision of June 2003. It was based on the Prospectus audit of structures and functions in the health system and the report of the commission on financial management and controls in the health service. Both reports identified organisational improvements needed to strengthen the capacity of the health system to meet the challenges of implementing the programme of development and reform set out in the health strategy document, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You.

Their implementation is under way and will result in a health services executive, a single unitary national structure for health service planning and delivery. The Government intends to assign the functions of health boards and authority to the Health Service Executive with effect from next January. Formal assignation of these functions will require new legislation that is being prepared. The emphasis is being placed on ensuring that there is adequate governance of the new structures in a radically restructured health system. I am developing more detailed proposals on the arrangements for consultation at regional level.

The Government also accepted that there is a need to strengthen existing arrangements for consumer panels and regional co-ordinating or advisory committees in representing the voice of service users. These structures incorporate patients, clients and other users or their advocates. They will work to provide a bottom-up approach to understanding the needs of service users at a regional planning level. Existing models are at different stages of development and will continue to be enhanced. Their mechanisms will serve to bring the views of patients and clients to bear in the decision-making process.

I expect to see meaningful input in decision-making from medical and other professionals at all levels in the new structures. This will arise particularly in the areas of service planning, education and training and some aspects of the organisation and design of services. The new structures will be based on a competency rather than a representational model.

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 health service for patients and clients.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

20 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the details of the programme of work undertaken to date by the national steering committee to oversee the different strands of the health reform programme; and when the composite plan used by the interim HSE will be made available to members of the Oireachtas Joint Oireachtas. [18373/04]

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The NSC was established to oversee, monitor and steer the health reform programme. It is chaired by Mr. Kevin Kelly, the executive chairman of the interim health service executive. The committee is composed of key stakeholders from various strands of the reform programme.

The four inter-related strands of activity under way are the change management programme being led by the interim HSE that is planning for its move to a unitary system from 2005; the elements of the reform programme under the remit of my Department that includes, inter alia, its restructuring and the establishment of HIQA; the work of the acute hospital review group chaired by David Hanly; and the ongoing management of the health service and preparations by the health board CEOs for the change to a unitary system. The national steering committee met twice to review progress made under the four inter-related streams.

The initial phase of the implementation of the reform programme involved a widespread communications and consultation process. It also involved the establishment of 13 action projects to flesh out specific aspects. The action projects concluded, as planned, at the end of December and a composite document outlining the main findings was prepared. I intend to publish it shortly.

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