Scrapping of HSE - Public needs reform not name change

As a political public relations event, yesterday’s announcement that the Health Service Executive will cease to exist in 2014 turned out to be something of a PR disaster for beleaguered Health Minister James Reilly.

What should have been an upbeat news affair backfired badly as further rifts opened in the increasingly shaky Fine Gael-Labour marriage. Political discord was visible in a yawning communications gulf between Fine Gael minister Dr Reilly and Labour’s Róisín Shortall, Minister for State with responsibility for delivering the primary care health service.

It was from media reports, and not Mr Reilly or senior civil servants, that she learned HSE chief executive Cathal Magee will step down during the transition to replace it with a director and six directorates. He informed the minister in writing of his intention last Friday, suggesting that Ms Shortall, widely regarded as an effective minister, is out in the cold.