Minister's new move on hospitals revamp

[Posted: Mon 11/06/2012 by Niall Hunter, Editor www.irishhealth.com]

Health Minister James Reilly has announced three new appointments as part of his ongoing revamp of how hospitals are run.

He has also established a oversight group to oversee the recent national recommendations on hospital safety and governance in the recent HIQA report on Tallaght Hospital.

The setting up of hospital groups followed by independent hospital trusts to manage hospitals is a major element of Dr Reilly's reform programme, which also includes the phasing out of the HSE and the introduction of universal health insurance.

The first two hospital groups to be established cover Galway-Roscommon and mid-western hospitals.

Minister Reilly has appopinted Noel Daly to chair the Galway-Roscommon group, and Prof Niall O'Higgins is to chair the mid-western group.

Noel Daly is a former Chief Executive of An Bord Altranais and has served in senior management posts in the health service in Ireland and the UK.

Niall O'Higgins is a former Professor of Surgery at UCD and was chair of the group that published proposals that were eventually used as the template for the reorganisation of cancer services in recent years.

Minister Reilly has also announced that international experts in patient safety and governance are being included in the new oversight group on the HIQA recommendations. The group will begin its work before the end of the month.

The group includes members from Denmark and the UK.

The Minister has also announced the appointment of Prof John Higgins to his Special Delivery Unit to chair a strategic board to assist in the design and establishment of hospital groups.

Prof Higgins is head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Cork University Maternity Hospital and head of the medical school at UCC.

Dr Reilly said the new appointments will assist in the development of  HIQA recommendations on improving competence and accountabillity of hospital boards.