7 key areas, one key goal

A key part of Dr Reilly’s health service reform diagnosis is the appointment of seven officials to lead directorates focused on specific aspects of the system.

Under the plan, all seven will be appointed before the end of this year, meaning another major step in removing the HSE management structure — and returning the vast majority of control to the minister — will be in place.

A director general will be in charge of implementing service reform. This person will be given the health service budget and its breakdown among the other directorates by the Department of Health, and will be tasked with ensuring these plans — and other goals — are met. Unlike the existing HSE CEO role, the DG will not have control over the health service budget, but will instead be told how it is implemented.