Q&A: What will HSE health regions mean for patients? 

It is expected if services work more closely with their nearest hospital, then patients can move more easily between them in line with Slaintecare reforms.

The first of the new HSE health regions starts to take shape today as Sandra Broderick takes over in Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary. So what does this mean for patients?

What is a HSE health region?

The HSE currently works in nine community healthcare organisations, six hospital groups, and Children’s Health Ireland.

There are also HSE public health departments which deal with infectious diseases and outbreaks.

The move will see a single HSE organisation with six health regions, under governance of the HSE board.

What will they do differently?

They will be funded based on the health needs of each local population.

This could benefit areas with high levels of deprivation, typically linked with worse health outcomes.

It is hoped as each region can make and fund decisions around hiring, vacancies can be filled more quickly.

While comparisons are sometimes drawn with the health boards which pre-dated the HSE’s formation in 2005, basing funding on population need is new and is hoped to more effectively address inequalities.

It is hard to blame health staff for being slightly weary however, as it was only in 2013 that the formation of hospital groups was announced.

They were described as “the most fundamental reform of the Irish acute hospital system in decades” but are already on the way out.

There have not been announcements of hospital or service closures.

Instead, it is expected if services work more closely with their nearest hospital, then patients can move more easily between them in line with Slaintecare reforms.

Where will each health region be?

HSE Southwest will cover Cork/Kerry while HSE Midwest covers Clare, Limerick and north Tipperary.

Tipperary South and Waterford along with Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow and south Dublin will form HSE Dublin and South East.

HSE Dublin Midlands stretches from the capital over to Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford.

HSE Dublin and Northeast runs into Meath, Louth, Monaghan and Cavan, while HSE West and Northwest covers Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo and Donegal.

When is this happening?

February next year is the deadline with each to be led by a regional executive officer. It is planned the hospital groups and community healthcare organisations will be stood down by the end of the year.

Who is going to be in charge?

At the moment each hospital group,  and community healthcare organisation's public health unit has separate management teams.

Ms Broderick starts today as regional executive officer of the new HSE Midwest health region.

In a statement, the HSE said: “The hospital group CEO, the community health organisation’s chief officer, and the director of public health will report directly to her, and she will report directly to the HSE’s CEO.” She is the first of the regional officers announced, with the others starting work on March 1.

Ms Broderick is leaving her role as assistant national director responsible for services for older people.