Olivia Mitchell
Ceist:92 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to reform the health boards. [28775/00]
Written Answers. - Reform of Health Boards.
The health board structure provides the framework for the delivery of health service administration. The existing organisational structures date back to the Health Act, 1970, which established eight health boards and defined their role in the provision of services. Each health board comprises elected local representatives, a small number of ministerial nominees and representatives of certain health professions employed by the board. Each board has its own chief executive officer who is answerable to his or her board. Health administration was further changed earlier this year with the establishment of the Eastern Regional Health Authority which took over the functions of the Eastern Health Board on 1 March 2000. The purpose of the change was to reform organisational structures in the health services in the eastern region, Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, to improve the co-ordination and integration in the planning and delivery of services.
The Government is committed to providing the best possible service to the people and continues to strive for excellence in the delivery of health care. While I currently have no plans for further reform of the existing structure, the service is under continuous review and evaluation by my Department, an example of which is the value for money audit currently under way. This VFM audit is being carried out under the Government's review of its Action Programme for the Millennium and is looking back on the provision of health services over the past ten years so as to examine, among other things, trends in demand, resource inputs and outputs and differentials across health boards and hospitals over the last ten years. The study is expected to be completed in spring 2001.
My Department is also working on the preparation of a new health strategy for publication in mid-2001. The strategy will address major issues facing the health services and how the health services may develop over a five to seven year timeframe.