Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004
70 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the Brennan report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18378/04]
View answerThe Health service reform programme announced by the Government in June 2003 is primarily based on the recommendations of the Commission on Financial Management and Control Systems in the Health Service, the Brennan report, and the Prospectus Audit of Structures and Functions in the Health System together with the Report of the National Taskforce on Medical Staffing, the Hanly report.
Implementation of the reform programme is now well underway. I announced the board of the interim HSE last November and the board has met on a number of occasions. The interim HSE was established as a statutory body on foot of SI 90/04 on 9 March. Under the establishment order, the interim HSE has been given the task of drawing up a plan for the transition to a unitary delivery system. 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 under way.
The Government has appointed a national steering committee to oversee the implementation of the reform programme. The committee will report to the Cabinet Committee on the Health Strategy, ensuring that the Government is kept fully informed on all important issues.
The Health (Amendment) Act 2004, which provides for the abolition of the membership of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards was commenced on the 15 June. The Act also repeals the provisions providing for the appointment of members to the Eastern Regional Health Authority, area health boards and health boards.
An interim health information quality authority will be established on an administrative basis by early autumn. A financial transition team made up of representatives from my Department and the interim HSE are working together to lay the groundwork for the implementation of a number of the recommendations of the Brennan commission. The team is working to enable the HSE to comply with its role in the management and control of the health service delivery system from January 2005.
A national service planning team has also been established made up of representatives from my Department and the Interim Health Service Executive. The team will be working on the development of a national service plan for 2005 and subsequent years with associated performance indicators and a robust monitoring and evaluation framework.
The new system 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. I am satisfied that the new arrangements, combined with the introduction of system-wide best practice governance and accountability systems, will ensure a more effective, efficient and responsive health system.
