Health system reforms draws up four new regions

THE final shape of the Government’s health system was revealed yesterday as the boundaries of the country’s new regional health areas were unveiled.

With the Health Services Executive (HSE) due to replace the health boards from January, the country will be split into four new areas with dedicated regional offices in each.

Announcing the four regional HSE areas yesterday - Western, Southern, Dublin/North-East and Dublin/Mid-Leinster - Health Minister Micheál Martin said the structure would improve patient services. The headquarters of the regional offices will be located in Galway City; Cork City; Kells, Co Meath, and Tullamore, Co Offaly.

The interim chief of the HSE, Kevin Kelly, also said the structures would deliver a better service across the board.

“Ireland will have a single, unified health service with devolved and empowered decision making at local level. This will deliver the most equitable and efficient management of the health system in order to achieve improved patient/client care, a better working environment for staff and enhanced value for money,” he said.

Yesterday’s news comes after last week’s announcement that Professor Aidan Halligan will take over as HSE chief executive from April next year.

However, Labour’s health spokeswoman Liz McManus said the gap between the establishment of the structures and the starting date of Mr Halligan did not bode well.

“If the minister intends to set up the new structures by January without a CEO, then it does not augur well for better management in the health service,” she said.

Ms McManus also questioned whether there would be enough accountability under the new structures.

“There is a real danger that we will have a plethora of talking shops and more layers of bureaucracy which will reduce rather than enhance the level of public accountability,” she said.

“Other countries are decentralising their health services but the Government seems now to be centralising power over the management of the health service.”