Another major blow to Sláintecare as Prof Anthony O’Connor resigns

Prof O’ Connor confirmed his resignation to the Irish Examiner on Thursday but said he does not wish to make any public comment on the matter.

The Sláintecare reform programme for the health service has suffered another blow as Professor Anthony O’Connor has announced he is resigning from its Implementation Advisory Council.

It is the third resignation from the implementation team in the last month, following the high-profile departures of executive director Laura Magahy and chair of the advisory committee Dr Tom Keane.

Prof O’ Connor confirmed his resignation to the Irish Examiner but said he did not wish to make any further comment on the matter.

A spokesman for health minister Stephen Donnelly said: “The Minister thanks Professor O’Connor for his dedication to Sláintecare and the health service. 

"The Government is committed to implementing universal health care and Sláintecare remains the roadmap for achieving this.” 

He said there is an “ongoing communications process” between the Department and the other council members.

Other members of the committee have also expressed frustrations over the past number of weeks at the slow pace of reform implementation. 

The HSE and the health minister have blamed the pandemic for the delays.

It is understood Prof O’ Connor was not happy after a meeting on Wednesday, between HSE chief executive Paul Reid, Department of Health secretary-general Robert Watt and the advisory council, failed to address growing concerns.

Labour party leader Alan Kelly described the resignation as “deeply shocking” given the work Prof O’ Connor has put in towards creating a single-tier health system.

He said: “If Stephen Donnelly doesn’t take control of this over the next week or so, Slaintecare will not happen. I really believe the minister has not got his head around this.” 

He called on Mr Donnelly to “prioritise Slaintecare”.

Sinn Fein health spokesman David Cullinane said: “More Sláintecare resignations. Another vote of no confidence in the ability of the Government to deliver change in health.” 

Prof O’ Connor, from Cork, is Clinical Lead of the Department of Gastroenterology at Tallaght University Hospital in Dublin. He was appointed to the council for a three-year period in late October 2018.

Sláintecare, launched in 2017, has been described as a blueprint for reform of the health services.