New HSE structure will ensure financial accountability and responsibility

Welcoming the publication of the new HSE Governance Legislation to be published this afternoon (Wednesday), Fine Gael Cork South Central Deputy and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer, said the new structures being put in place will ensure greater accountability of where and how the health budget is being spent. Deputy Buttimer went on to say that frustration expressed by Micheál Martin in the Dáil this morning over the state of the health services is pitiful considering his track record in the area.

“Since coming to office, Minister Reilly has been attempting to get to grips with the health service, putting structures in place to ensure the delivery of a service that is fit for purpose.

“The legislation being announced today will see the appointment of seven Directorates, each with responsibility for overseeing one area of the health service, such as mental health, hospital care, primary care, social care, children and family services, public health and corporate/ shared service. This will provide a clear line of accountability, for the first time, of how money is being spent in each area.

“This Government is serious about delivering services for the people based on their medical need and not the money in their pocket. We aim to do this through the provision of accessible multi-disciplinary community care. To this end, 35 primary care centres are being built across the country, with €115 million announced yesterday for Phase 1 of the plan. This is part of a part of a multi-billion euro stimulus package aimed at boosting the economy and creating jobs.

“The frustration expressed by Micheál Martin in the Dáil this morning over the state of the health service is pathetic, considering his, and his Party’s, record in office. As Minister for Health, Martin failed to permanently end waiting lists in our hospitals and in our A&E departments, as promised, to expand hospital bed numbers, as promised, or to significantly reform the health service, as promised.

“Minister Reilly, for his part, has succeed in bring trolley numbers down through the Special Delivery Unit, which saw the number of patients on trolley down 17% in the first three months of the year compare to the same time last year.

“This Government is committed to developing a universal, single-tier healthcare service which will bring the cost of achieving the best outcomes for patients down. It will also bring an end, once and for all, to the unequal and inefficient healthcare system which was presided over by Micheál Martin and Fianna Fáil for years.”