Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Gloster is very welcome. Having worked with him previously, I have no doubt that the HSE is in good hands. We wish him well in his endeavours because it will be challenging. It will not be easy but it will be rewarding because the achievables that are possible are significant and will make a major difference to the lives of the people of this country. I sincerely hope the committee can work with Mr. Gloster constructively in a positive way. When he appears before us and we put questions and issues to him, it will usually reflect what constituents want. I know that is what he would want as well.

On what Mr. Gloster has outlined so far, it is very welcome that his initial policy position with us is to focus on areas such as mental health, women's health and supporting people with disabilities. We have been a First World country for a significant period, despite the difficulties we had from 2008 to approximately 2016. That decade was difficult as regards resources and so on but, by and large, we have been a First World country for the past three or four decades. However, we certainly are not a First World country when it comes to creating the type of equilibrium and equality of access to services and supports for people with various disabilities to ensure they have a level playing pitch and the same opportunities to reach their potential in life that able-bodied colleagues have. The health service has not stepped up to the plate in creating that equilibrium. For Mr. Gloster, in his inaugural visit to the committee, to put that at the top of his agenda is very welcome.

It is welcome that he immediately instigated management change within the HSE. It would have been very easy for him to say that he would wait until the regional health forums were established in a year's time to put that type of structure in place. However, he moved rapidly to try to create accountability and devolve responsibility to the various CEOs of the hospital groups and create his senior management team of 15. It is very welcome that will now happen from 1 April.

Mr. Gloster will not be surprised if I ask him how he thinks it will impact on University Hospital Limerick, UHL, particularly when it comes to the serious problem with the delayed transfer of care there, which is a significant contributory factor to the numbers on trolleys. Given that Mr. Gloster is making that management change very quickly, how rapidly does he think we will see an impact on the trolley numbers at UHL? While he is answering that element of the question, he might also give us his views on whether there should be a model 3 hospital on the mid-west. Is there a case for a model 3 hospital? Given Mr. Gloster’s vast experience working in the mid-west, does he think it is lacking? Does there need to be re-appraisal of Government policy in that regard?