HSE may have to appoint patient advocate to board

The HSE may be forced to appoint a patient advocate to its returned HSE board as part of strict new accountability and transparency measures set to be passed by the Government.

Health Minister Simon Harris will tell Cabinet today he wants to remain open to the patient advocate role plan during a meeting where he will say the new board must have “responsibility for assessing the chief executive’s performance”.

In a plan to be discussed during a Cabinet meeting which will also see ministers agree new powers allowing garda watchdog GSOC to examine potential garda involvement in cross-border Troubles-era cold cases, Mr Harris will say a HSE board must return to ensure accountability.