I have been informed by the executive chairman of the interim Health Service Executive that a special communication was issued to all health service employees in November. In this communication, the chairman stated that no one will be expected to move to an area outside his or her existing region without consultation and agreement.
Following the publication of the special communication, the executive chairman and members of the change management team embarked on a series of briefings in each of the four new regional areas — Cork, Galway, Tullamore and Kells. IMPACT trade union instructed its members not to attend the briefing sessions and consequently the attendances were lower than had been intended. However, copies of the communication have been distributed widely right through health boards, voluntary agencies and those agencies scheduled to be streamlined in January.
The communication was in the form of a Link magazine and was the 11th issue of the Link so far this year. As well as the Link magazine, the executive chairman and members of the change management team have been involved in briefing sessions, meetings and working groups with staff right across the health service. The newly appointed national directors will now play an important role in communicating with staff.
Last month I announced that the executive chairman of the interim executive will step aside to take up the position of interim chief executive officer of the executive from 1 January 2005. I have consequently recently announced that I have decided to appoint an existing member of the interim executive, Mr. Liam Downey, to the position of chairperson of the Health Service Executive.
