Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2018
226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a restructuring of the HSE will take place with a view to greater accountability and influence at regional level, including representational status for professionals and public representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6620/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the recommendations made by the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare in relation to reform of our health structures. I have already made clear my views on the need for much stronger governance and accountability arrangements, a better geographical alignment between hospital groups and community healthcare organisations, and a better balance between central strategy and standard setting on the one hand and allowing local flexibility, responsiveness and decision making on the other.
This will require an evolution of our health structures, to create a strong, lean national centre with responsibility for national planning, strategy and standard setting, complemented in time by new regional integrated care organisations that will operate with appropriate autonomy within defined geographic areas and with clear reporting structures.
I have already announced a number of measures that will advance this. A memorandum will be brought to Government in the coming weeks with the General Scheme for a Bill to introduce a Governing Board for the HSE, and a process for considering the future alignment of hospital groups and community health organisations will be initiated shortly, informed by a public consultation process.
I am aware of the challenges and disruption that changing structures can pose and I am conscious that the creation of regional organisations must be carefully planned and managed. The consultation on alignment will be an important first step in this process. The Slaintecare implementation plan, which I hope to bring to Government shortly, will provide further detail on these important recommendations.
