Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
1203. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the regional health area implantation plan; the level of consultation that took place with HSE management; if south Tipperary and Cork will remain part of CHO4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47954/23]
View answerThe HSE Health Regions Implementation Plan was approved by Government and published in July 2023. This plan was jointly produced by the Department of Health and HSE. This plan has had the benefit of significant input from staff of all levels across the HSE, the Department and the wider health sector. In addition, the Plan commits to continuing an ongoing schedule of engagement with HSE staff at all levels, patient and service user representatives, voluntary service providers, GPs, and others.
HSE senior managers have been involved in all aspects of the design and implementation of the Health Regions. The HSE have appointed senior managers specifically to the HSE Health Regions Implementation Team. In addition, there has been HSE representation on an Implementation Team which oversaw a number of working groups dedicated to determining relative roles and responsibilities under key functional areas such as workforce planning, capital and ICT infrastructure and finance. The outputs of these working groups are evident in the Implementation Plan.
In addition, the Deputy may be aware that I established an independent Health Regions Advisory Group which has representatives from across the health and social care sector in September 2021. The Advisory Group has provided significant input and insight into the development of the Implementation Plan, as part of their role in guiding, supporting, and advising on the overall design and implementation of Health Regions to my Department and HSE officials.
In relation to the alignment of the areas of South Tipperary and Cork, I wish to confirm that the map previously approved by Government has the South Tipperary region as part of the HSE Dublin Southeast Region. Cork is part of the HSE Southwest Region. The map can be found at www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=assets.gov.ie/266172/46f33ac2-0f6c-4a4b-bacf-7ec4b22d5daf.pdf#page=null.
A detailed series of research, analysis, and consultation was undertaken by the Department and the HSE to support the identification of the optimal boundaries of the new regions. This included a review of approaches taken internationally and in previous reforms, a public consultation process, and a detailed analysis of service usage patterns.
I might note for the Deputy that a significant component of the Health Regions Implementation Plan is that CHOs and Hospital Groups will be stood down at the end of 2024.
