Too many boards and not enough health care
Radical reform of the health system isn't about re-writing job descriptions, re-defining roles and responsibilities and fiddling around with outdated organisational structures. These actions are important but are low-level management activities, will not effect change on the scale required to improve our health system and miss the real source of haemorrhage Health Boards.
How many individual, regional health boards, CEOs and boards of management can a country the size of Ireland sustain? It seems to be as many as the current health budget can afford, regardless of what is most efficient or effective number. This is the real source of the health crisis though its continually overlooked.
Two many chiefs, too many managers, too many Health Boards and too much effort and cost trying to teach the 'Health Board elephant' how to dance.
People on regional health boards derive much power and status from being on the board they will not relinquish their power and status easily and this is the real health service challenge.
If Minister Martin is genuinely interested in improving the health system, his first port of call must be the dismantling and rationalising of ineffective health board hierarchies.
Paul Feeney,
The Lodge,
Mount Carmel,
Lake Road,
Cobh,
Co Cork.
